Siegfried and Roy podcast 'Wild Things'—Las Vegas legends' personal lives and tiger attack revealed

Siegfried and Roy podcast, Wild Things, is a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of one of Las Vegas' most renowned and mysterious acts. The series pulls back the curtain and shows what the secretive stars were really like, and what caused the horrific tiger attack that nearly killed one of them.

Long before huge stars like Adele's Las Vegas residency, Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn's show was regarded as Sin City's best show. They performed over 30,000 shows throughout their career, which spanned nearly half a century. 

Under their stage name, Siegfried and Roy, they provided unmatchable entertainment with their huge Las Vegas magic shows featuring big cats, dancers, and acrobatic performances. This all changed after a horrific tiger attack live on stage which nearly killed Roy.

In Wild Things, investigative journalist Steven Leckart examines their private lives, their eccentricities, their public personae, and their fateful final show in Las Vegas. 

Siegfried and Roy tiger attack

Back in 2003, there was an accident at the Mirage in which a seven-year-old white tiger named Montecore attacked and severely injured Roy. The attack nearly killed him and effectively put a stop to their career.

The Guardian reports that Montecore bit Roy, "through the neck, slicing his vertebrae and severing an artery that cuts off the blood to the right side of his brain." The attack left him partially paralyzed on the left side of his body. 

Seemingly, while in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, the injured performer said, “Montecore is a great cat. Make sure no harm comes to Montecore.” He continued to live with Montecore until the tiger's death in 2014. 

The German-born performer subsequently claimed that the tiger didn’t actually mean to attack him. Instead, he said that the tiger was trying to take him to safety as he was having a stroke.

To this day, the reason behind the attack isn't known, but this podcast claims to find the answer to what really happened that night.

Wild Things is a deep dive into the Las Vegas legend's lives and an in-depth look at what caused the horrific tiger attack.

Siegfried and Roy—were they a couple?

Although they never spoke openly about their relationship, sometimes even claiming their brothers, it's believed that the pair were, for a time, in a romantic relationship.

However, considering the fact that their career took off during a time when homophobia was completely socially acceptable, it's understandable that they might not have wanted fans to know of their personal lives.

Newsweek reports that close friends, including the MGM Mirage spokesperson Alan Feldman publicly discussed the performers' relationship. Shortly after Roy's attack, Alan said, "It's well-known that they were lovers at one time. I don't think anybody is hiding that."

Siegfried and Roy—are they still alive?

Roy died aged 75, from COVID-19, in May 2020. Shortly after in January 2021, Siegfried died aged 81 from pancreatic cancer.

Following his stage partner's passing, Siegfried released a statement that read, "Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend. From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried."

Siegfried and Roy podcast Wild Things—how to find it

Those wishing to listen to the exciting new eight-part show can download or stream it for free via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasting platforms.

It's free to download, and the first two episodes dropped on January 12—so go listen now!