Joe Exotic has captured the world's attention thanks to the mind-blowing Netflix docu-series
Tiger King.
Those who watched the drama unravel on screen know that one of Joe's many husbands was a
heavily tattooed man named John Finlay.
But viewers may not recognize him these days thanks to a smile-worthy transformation.
After leaving both Joe Exotic and his job at the big cat park behind, John Finlay got
a new gig as a welder.
He's also settled down with his fiancée Stormey, who was apparently the woman seen with Finlay
when he had his "Privately Owned Joe Exotic" tattoo removed at the end of the docu-series.
Along with a new job and a new partner, Finlay also has a new set of teeth.
Viewers will surely remember that along with being shirtless during his interview, which,
according to TMZ, was apparently the producers' idea, Finlay was also missing several teeth.
While many assumed that his dental situation was due to drug use - since meth was being
used by employees of the park, including Finlay, as he has admitted - he claims that he lost
his teeth due to a genetic condition and has been clean for six years.
Whatever the cause of Finlay's missing chompers, he has since had them replaced, which is a
detail he shared on Facebook along with a photo of himself smiling with his new teeth.
While that fact didn't make it into the final cut of what was seen on Netflix, perhaps we'll
still get a chance to see them in all their glory if we end up getting a follow-up to
Tiger King.
Finlay definitely seems to be enjoying his new teeth, which are dentures for the time
being, but they didn't come without a cost - and we're not referring to the substantial
amount of money that he likely paid for the extensive dental work.
Rather, Finlay has admitted that the experience came with a lot of pain.
The Netflix docu-series star sat down for a chat on Lights Out with David Spade in March
2020 and ended up discussing his new teeth.
"What's more painful - a weiner tattoo or teeth getting fixed?"
"I dunno, I've got 51 tattoos, and I think my teeth are actually the worst part of it."
Finlay must have experienced a heck of a lot of pain when getting his infamous "Joe Exotic"
tattoo, since Healthline's tattoo pain chart includes the groin as one of the most painful
places on your body to get permanent art.
Prompted by the popularity of Tiger King, John Finlay set up a fan page on Facebook
in order to interact directly with those who are interested in his part of the story and
want to know more about him.
Among the queries from curious followers was one regarding Finlay's teeth and his former
husband's financial situation.
Noting that the Netflix docu-series claimed that Joe often bought expensive gifts for
his husbands, one person asked, quote, "If Joe would buy you trucks and many more gifts
why didn't you ask him to fix your teeth?"
While it's unclear whether or not Finlay did, indeed, ask Joe for a little help when it
came to paying to get his teeth cleaned up or possibly replaced, Finlay did reveal that
this isn't the first time that he's had dental work done, writing that four wheeler accidents,
animal attacks, and cage-building lead to him frequently breaking his teeth.
Along with using his Facebook page to answer fans' questions regarding his time with Joe
Exotic, and to let them know what's going on in his life these days, Finlay is also
using the platform to show off his new teeth.
In turn, his followers are laying on the praise.
One fan wrote, "I bet you feel like a new man - the new teeth look great."
And that seems to be the consensus as many comments are compliments about his new teeth
and some even note that he appears to be "much healthier" these days.
Others think that those responsible for the Netflix docu-series should have included the
transformation in the final cut.
Another person commented,
"Your teeth look great.
It's a little sad to know that there was footage with you wearing a shirt and updated pictures
of your teeth, and they didn't show it.
I can see why (due to the story and angle they were using) they didn't use any of that
during the bulk of the film.
But I see no reason why it wouldn't be included at the end, to show that you truly have moved
on."
Viewers may not have been able to see Finlay's new teeth on Netflix but at least the stellar
dental work is a good reason for him to keep smiling even when the cameras aren't rolling.
But does his smile make him look like Channing Tatum?
Finlay may be looking better these days thanks to his new teeth, but does he look like a
movie star?
While he may not have Hollywood aspirations, David Spade did ask him which actor he would
want to portray him if a film was made about the Tiger King story.
"I would have to say Channing Tatum."
"I like it!"
Dax Shepard is another star that could pop up in a film about the tiger park - that is,
if the actor himself has anything to say about it.
Shepard tweeted on March 25, 2020,
"If I don't get cast as Joe Exotic in the eventual biopic, Hollywood is broken."
Fellow thespian Edward Norton responded to the tweet by writing that Shepard is, quote,
"way too young and buff" for the role, while Justin Long also chimed in to suggest that
Jim Gaffigan step in as Doc Antle.
And if you're wondering who would play Carole Baskin, well, People reported on March 26th
that Kate McKinnon will be playing her in a future adaptation of the Joe Exotic saga.
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