‘No relation to Carole Baskin.’ A Baskin-Robbins in Kansas has message for customers

A Baskin-Robbins in Kansas wants customers to know it’s not related to Joe Exotic’s rival chronicled in the Netflix documentary “Tiger King.”

The ice cream franchise in Junction City, Kansas, posted a sign on its marquee over the weekend stating, “No relation to Carole Baskin.”

Baskin, the founder of Big Cat Rescue in Florida, fought to shut down the Oklahoma zoo operated by Joseph Maldonado-Passage, better know by Joe Exotic. Maldonado-Passage accused Baskin — without evidence — of killing her missing husband Don Lewis. Maldonado-Passage was sentenced to prison in a murder-for-hire plot to kill Baskin.

The story grew in notoriety with the release of the Netflix show.

Here’s the marquee sign posted by the Baskin-Robbins in Junction City.

In fact, Baskin-Robbins was started by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in 1945, according to the company’s website.

Peggy Heldstab, who operates the franchise in Kansas, told TMZ it was her son’s idea to put up the sign. She says the sign is apparently boosting business at the ice cream shop, which is much-needed during coronavirus shutdowns, according to TMZ.

This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 5:54 PM.