After spending eight years in prison for the murder of her mother, Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was released early on parole in December 2023, and suddenly became an internet sensation who advocates for other MSbP victims.
Gypsy’s mother, Dee-Dee Blanchard, suffered from a behavioral disorder called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. This disorder causes caregivers, usually mothers, to falsify or exaggerate the medical needs of those in their care to seek attention and gain sympathy. Blanchard’s mother induced and fabricated multiple chronic illnesses for her child, Gypsy-Rose, who ultimately arranged her mother’s murder in 2015.
Dee-Dee was murdered by Nicholas Godejohn, whom Gypsy-Rose met online. The then 24-year-old convinced Godejohn to kill Dee-Dee while she hid in the bathroom. Blanchard pled guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Fast forward to 2024, where she served 85% of her time and got out early on parole. Gypsy-Rose has been using her newfound freedom to do interviews, a docuseries, and post on social media. Gypsy’s recent media presence poses the question: does she deserve the fame?
When the case first hit the public, multiple films and documentaries were made about Gypsy-Rose and her mother. Blanchard gained a lot of attention while in prison and her ubiquitous presence in the media has led to millions of supporters defending and justifying her crime. Even though she has only been out of prison for a few short weeks, she has a whopping 9.9 million followers on TikTok and has racked up 55.5 million likes.
“I need love. I need support. That’s all I want from you guys,” Gypsy-Rose said in a TikTok post on January 16.
Many fans offer abundant support, and some go so far as to try to send Gypsy-Rose money. Internet users started to incorporate Gypsy into “stan” culture. Fans glorify her and restlessly defend all of her past and current behavior, so much so that many people had countdowns for her prison release and left many supportive comments on all her social media posts. Users say things like “QUEEN”, “YOU’RE SO ICONIC GYPSY”, and so on. Many young people began to view Blanchard as an “icon” and an inspiration for victims in similar positions which explains her sudden influencer-esque lifestyle. She claims that her reason for joining social media is to spread awareness about MSP, but many cannot shake the fact that she played a serious role in the murder of her mother.
Though Blanchard has dutiful followers, a vast majority of people find her social media presence disturbing. Some even go as far as to attack her and call her names blatantly. A common pattern of stan culture is to obsess over a single person, and then begin to criticize them and “cancel” them for not living up to the glorified fake version of themselves that was curated by the media and expected from them. The media will inevitably turn on Blanchard, and wonder why she came to stardom in the first place.
“I don’t associate myself as a murderer. He was the one who did the actual kill. Not me,” Gypsy-Rose said in an interview with Nick Viall.
Many believe that this interview could potentially land Blanchard back in prison, as speaking out about the crime and Godejohn’s role goes against Gypsy-Rose’s parole terms.
It is unfathomable that somebody who played a serious role in a murder has so much love and support from the public. The truth is that Gypsy is a survivor of trauma who played a role in a murder, not a celebrity. If it is not okay to support and eulogize other convicted felons, why is it okay to glorify and justify the life of Gypsy-Rose Blanchard?
Social media has a serious impact on how the public views criminals, especially those who have committed murder. Many serial killers, or murderers in general, are praised and tirelessly defended by their “fans.” Allowing this poor girl to become famous and defend her past actions is wrong. Gypsy-Rose Blanchard does not deserve all the attention she has been getting, and should take a step out of the spotlight to try and live a normal life.
Panini C. • Apr 12, 2024 at 11:48 am
Facts over feelings!! This is spot on. Experiencing trauma is no excuse for murder. If she was so traumatized why didn’t she do it herself? Maybe because she was manipulative just like she was taught and groomed to be. And the hypocrisy and childishness an adult has towards a child all the while passing the same judgement that left them offended enough to name call someone giving an OPINION!
Catherine Carberry • Apr 7, 2024 at 1:52 pm
What exactly is a normal life? Why should she do what you say?WHO ARE YOU?! I’m a survivor of neglectful, abusive parents. I’m so sick of you little girls raised by good parents passing judgement. You have no idea what it’s like to be harmed by the main people that are supposed to protect you, so entitled little snots like you don’t get to say how survivors should act. Some of our laws are so antiquated. She deserves every ounce of good she gets, there’s only so much life left to make up for the hell she went through.
Tyler Benton • Jan 31, 2024 at 10:22 pm
Nice article!
Mr. Aiello • Jan 31, 2024 at 10:49 am
Love the nuanced perspective here. I totally agree that it is possible to sympathize with what she went through, while at the same time condemning her actions on social media.