Murder. Mystery. Deception. All three of these things surrounded Gypsy Rose and her mother, Dee Dee, in a story that gripped the nation for years. The story seems to be finally coming to an end, as Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison on Dec. 28, 2023, after serving 7 years for the part she played in her mother’s murder.
Blanchard made headlines on June 15, 2015, when she was arrested for second-degree murder alongside her boyfriend Nick Godejohn after they brutally killed her mother. Growing up, Dee Dee convinced Blanchard that she suffered from several medical conditions like leukemia and muscular dystrophy, despite her being in perfect health, and detailed their supposed journey on social media. The two quickly gained a following, receiving many donations throughout the years, one of them being a free house from Habitat of Humanity. In order to make Blanchard’s health appear to decline, Dee Dee subjected her to several unnecessary medical procedures, even forcing her to use a wheelchair despite being fully capable of walking on her own. To escape this abuse, Blanchard gave her boyfriend at the time a knife to stab Dee Dee, and the two fled to his house. The police were able to locate their location after they posted an explicit Facebook post alluding to Dee Dee’s death from his house.
“I think that Gypsy Rose is finally able to live her life how she wants to. The internet is treating it very loosely, but she has been through so much and deserves to live on her own terms,” Laika Olwana, junior, said.
Since her release, Blanchard has become one of the newest internet sensations. Many celebrated her release on social media and showed their support for Blanchard as she navigates her newfound freedom. The recent events have sparked a viral debate on TikTok over whether Blanchard should receive sympathy from the public. While many claim that she is a victim and should be treated with compassion, others argue that she is manipulative and should not be praised for her horrific actions.
“I believe that there should be a fine line with how Gypsy Rose should be treated. I understand the praise due to her finally escaping her horrible childhood, but she should still be proceeded with caution considering she is a convicted criminal,” Addison Bishop, sophomore, said.
The recent attention has skyrocketed Blanchard to fame as both paparazzi and fans have been following her around. She has gained almost 10 million followers on TikTok in less than a month. With her newfound status, Blanchard released a book on Jan. 9, 2024, and a documentary on Jan. 5, 2024, discussing her side of the story and childhood.
“I am excited to watch the documentary because I think Gypsy Rose’s story is very interesting, and I want to learn more about it,” Jimmy Dudgeon, senior, said.
As Blanchard continues to capture the nation’s attention, many hope that she will use it for good and spread advocacy for abuse victims.
