Joe Exotic’s legal team were so confident the Tiger King star would get a pardon from President Trump - they hired a limo and parked near his prison.
They even had hair and makeup at the ready.
"This time tomorrow, we’re going to be celebrating," Eric Love, who is leading Exotic’s bid for freedom, told Metro.co.uk in an interview Monday afternoon.
However it was not meant to be.
Trump did not name Joe Exotic, 57, Julian Assange, 49, or Edward Snowden, 37, who were all expected to be considered for clemency.
Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage has served roughly two years of a 22-year sentence after he was convicted on 17 federal charges in 2019. His crimes include animal abuse and an attempted murder-for-hire plot on rival zoo keeper Carole Baskin.
After it was confirmed that Exotic was not getting a pardon - Twitter had a field day.
"You already know who Joe Exotic is going to blame for not getting pardoned..." one tweet read.
"Joe Exotic had a whole ass limo waiting and Trump was like ‘nah I’m good keep him in there,'" another added.
"There is no reason to pardon Joe Exotic. The guy is a psycho and guilty as hell. The idea that he should get a pardon because he was in a show everyone liked is just deranged," a serious tweet read.
Exotic's non-pardon comes after the reality star's father died of complications from COVID-19.
The news was revealed in a tweet Tuesday stating that “2021 already is showing the evil side.”
“I just learned my Dad has passed away now also,” he said of Francis Schreibvogel, who TMZ reported had succumbed to the virus.
“So hard being here knowing I am innocent and now I have lost both parents during this hell,” tweeted the star.
He has previously claimed that his mother, Shirley Schreibvogel, may have been murdered when she died at age 85 in September 2019, The Sun has said.
Exotic claimed his mother could have been killed by "an overdose" because her death was "never properly investigated."
Exotic alleged his former partner Jeff Lowe quickly had her cremated so he could gain control of Joe Exotic’s animal empire.
“R.I.P. Dad, tell Mom hello, at least you are not alone anymore. I love you both.”