Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32 year old woman who was abused by her mother, was recently released from prison on Dec. 28, 2023, after acting as an accomplice to her mother’s murder. She is now going viral on all social media platforms following her prison release.
Her mother was believed to have Munchausen syndrome by proxy.
“Gypsy rose deserves all the attention she’s getting because she was abused all her life,” Hriday Patel, junior said.
Blanchard’s now deceased mother, who went by the name DeeDee, falsely claimed her daughter was mentally challenged with a chromosomal disorder, as well as many other disabilities leaving healthy Gypsy in a wheelchair for most of her life.
Blanchard met a boy named Nicholas Godejohn when she was 19. She fell in love and the pair came up with a plan to get rid of her mom, DeeDee. On July 5, 2016 Blanchard pleaded guilty to second degree murder.
“She served the time she needed, she wasn’t the one to kill her mom, also her mom did some pretty horrific things. She lived a hard life, I’m happy she’s out,” Ella Jesteadt, junior, said.
The internet decided her release would be the main focus of 2024, leaving TikTok creators creating videos that may be controversial, posting quotes like “gypsy is queen” and “free gypsy.” The reason for her sudden popularity? No ones quite sure, but the views are flooding in.
“It’s strange that we are normalizing someone who killed their mother, but at the same time I think that it is important for her to know that she has people rooting for her because getting out of prison she could be in a really dark place,” Jesteadt said.
Others are confused as to why she’s getting positive attention and let it be known their hatred, believing a “murderer” shouldn’t be praised.
“I honestly have mixed emotions about her getting popular on social media, she killed her mom she should not be praised,” Lauren Barill, sophomore, said.
Gypsy Rose endured years of abuse, such as being restricted from eating, unnecessary medical surgeries performed on her healthy body as well as making Blanchard believe she was ill.
“After years of abuse and not having a childhood Gypsy should be allowed to make money off of social media, and live happily with her husband,” Jesteadt said.
Despite the backlash, Blanchard continues posting on her Instagram account where she is steadily gaining followers. Opinions fill the comment section as she posts selfies of her and her husband Ryan Anderson.
“When I go on gypsy roses social media accounts she always has a lot of comments,” Micayla Dooley, junior, said. “Some of the comments I see are people telling her she is a queen and that she’s beautiful, there’s also some hate, although that comes everywhere with social media.”
Even with some rooting on her downfall, Blanchard has still taken over the internet and seems to be loving it. Currently standing at 4.8 million Instagram followers Gypsy Rose is able to make income off her posts to support her new life and freedom.
