Gypsy Rose Blanchard, daughter of Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, is one of the most publicized victims of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. With three documentaries, a TV series reenactment, and multiple verified social media accounts, it’s hard not to see her name across the screen. But why should a famous murderer deserve all of this unbridled fame?
On December 28th, 2023 at 3:30 a.m. Blanchard was released from Chillicothe Correctional Center in Chillicothe, Missouri where she served seven of a ten-year sentence for second-degree murder.
After years of unnecessary medical treatments and torment from her mother, Blanchard decided to take matters into her own hands. First, Blanchard attempted to run away from home but was quickly found and restrained against her will by Dee Dee.
Once Blanchard regained access to the internet, she met a man on a dating site named Nicholas Godejohn. Little did she know that this man would play a part in her and her mother’s demise. Blanchard eventually convinced him to kill her mother in order for them to run away together. When the couple fled to Godejohn’s home after Nicholas killed Dee-Dee, they were found and arrested by the police.
Her release has once again revived her surreal story in the media, causing insensitive memes and comments to glorify the situation. Blanchard’s case is one of many that have been turned into a cash cow.
Candance Owens, a commentator for The Daily Wire posted a TikTok addressing her thoughts on Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s fame.
“The Hulu Treatment does not convince me that this is necessarily a good person,” said Owens.
It is amazing that someone who has endured so much trauma can finally have freedom, but that doesn’t mean they deserve the spotlight. From attending red carpets a week after her release, to oversharing personal details about her relationship with news outlets, Gypsy Rose Blanchard has gone from convicted criminal to celebrity.
“Just because something bad happens to someone when they are a child, that does not mean we should dismiss the obvious signs that there is now something wrong with them when they are an adult,” said Candance Owens.
It’s easy to glorify haunting true crime cases like Gypsies for fun, but people must not lose sight of the situation. A trend as dangerous as fantasizing about murderers can be detrimental to future cases. In addition to infatuating society with the idea of murder as entertainment, this sensationalism could cause recovering criminals to be prevented from moving forward with their lives.
