Carole Baskin To Debut New Image On 'DWTS': 'Tiger King Villainized Me'

KEY POINTS

Carole Baskin revealed she joined "Dancing With The Stars" to show people who she really is
Baskin noted that "Tiger King" completely villanized her
The 29th season of "DWTS" will premiere on Sept. 14

Carole Baskin, who became a household name after Netflix’s docu-series “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness,” has revealed that her intention to participate in the upcoming season of “Dancing With The Stars” is to let people see who she is in real life and not the “villain” they see on the show.

While making an appearance on “Good Morning America” with the rest of the star-studded cast of “DWTS,” Baskin said that the makers of “Tiger King” glamourized the animal abusers and “villainized” a person like her who was working tirelessly to save the big cats.

Baskin also explained that her life has been a “nightmare” since the series dropped on the streaming service because people were judging the “false portrayal” of her identity without doing any kind of research.

“‘Tiger King’ really glamorized animal abusers and villainized me for trying to stop animal abuse, and so I felt betrayed by that. But what amazed me was how many people believed that false portrayal of me without doing anything to find out who I am. It's been a nightmare since 'Tiger King' aired,” Baskin said.

The CEO of Big Cat Rescue also shared that she wants to use the “DWTS” platform to raise awareness about animal welfare.

“The longer my partner and I can stay in the running and in the competition it will keep the cats' forefront in the viewer's eye and to me, that was where 'Tiger King' missed the ball - it really should have been focused on the animals. I am competitive, but I am competitive with myself. I want to do the very best that I can possibly do,” Baskin said during the interview.

The docu-series has received positive reviews from the critics as well as audiences. Season 1 has a score of 86% on review site Rotten Tomatoes.

Baskin will be joined in the new season of the dance reality show by rapper Nelly, Backstreet Boys member Aj Mclean, former “Desperate Housewives” actor Jesse Metcalfe, Disney Channel star Skai Jackson and “Volcano” actress Anne Heche.

“Dancing With The Stars” Season 29 will premiere on Sept. 14.