Carole Baskin makes DWTS debut as family of missing Don Lewis air advert during show
Don Lewis' family tried to get one up on Carole after they paid for an advert to be aired during DTWS which appealed for information about his disappearance
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With pink animal print, a big cat cage, and a paw-filled paso doble to Eye of the Tiger, it seemed unlikely anybody would steal the show from Tiger King’s Carole Baskin during the US launch show of Dancing With the Stars.
But it was the family of the Netflix star’s missing ex-husband who clawed the limelight, airing an advert during the show to appeal for information.
Millionaire Don Lewis disappeared in 1997 ahead of a planned trip to Costa Rica, and was declared legally dead in 2002. His case has recently been reopened.
During Tiger King, rival animal park owner Joe Exotic - now behind bars for attempting to hire a hitman to murder Carole - aired his theories she killed Don and fed him to her tigers.
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She has repeatedly denied claims she was involved in her former husband’s disappearance.
During an ad break, Lewis’s daughters, Gale, Lynda and Donna shared a heartfelt plea for information while Lewis’s former assistant, Anne, said “all we’re asking is justice for Don”.
With a reward of £78,000 on offer, the family’s lawyer said: “Don Lewis mysteriously disappeared in 1997. His family deserves answers; they deserve justice. Do you know who did this or if Carole Baskin was involved?”
Carole’ was informed of the ad 10 minutes prior to her performance with partner Pasha Pashkov - who Rachel Riley was keen to point out yesterday, is not her husband - Strictly’s Pasha Kovalev.
Her rendition of Survivor’s 1982 hit Eye Of The Tiger received the lowest score of the evening, though bookies still have her at 12-1 to win the series.
Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli scored her 3, while critiquing her repetitive paw pose, saying: “I thought you were going to dislocate your shoulder.”
He also joked: “For me you didn’t quite kill the paso doble, it was kind of sedated.”
Careful, Bruno - you don’t want Carole to get her claws out for you.
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