Gypsy Rose Blanchard has apologized after appearing in a TikTok video where she joked about the 2015 murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, a killing for which she served nearly eight years in prison.
Background
The video, posted Saturday by influencer Natalie Reynolds, featured the pair participating in a TikTok trend called "We listen and we don't judge." In the footage, Blanchard, 34, described going to prison before gesturing an X sign with her hands and mimicking a choking sound while saying "...my own mom."
Dee Dee Blanchard was found dead in June 2015 at the family's Springfield, Missouri home. Authorities determined she had been stabbed to death by Nicholas Godejohn, Blanchard's then-boyfriend. Investigators later learned that Dee Dee Blanchard allegedly suffered from Munchausen by proxy, a psychological disorder that led her to force her daughter to use a wheelchair and undergo unnecessary medical treatments. Before the killing, the mother had allegedly isolated Gypsy Rose and tied her to a bed to prevent her from escaping.
Blanchard was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was released from custody in December 2023 after serving approximately eight years.
The Investigation
The TikTok video drew immediate criticism from social media users who condemned what they perceived as Blanchard making light of her mother's murder. In a statement to TMZ, Blanchard said she understood why the public reacted negatively.
"That was the entire point of the video: accountability and growth," Blanchard said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't received how we wanted."
Blanchard told TMZ the X gesture was not intended to make light of her mother's death but rather a creative measure to prevent TikTok from moderating the video due to its sensitive content. She said she believed she could "frame it in a way" that would allow her to own past mistakes while taking accountability.
Key Takeaways
- Blanchard was released from prison in December 2023 after serving roughly eight years of a 10-year sentence
- Her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, was killed in 2015 by Nicholas Godejohn, Blanchard's then-boyfriend
- Dee Dee Blanchard allegedly suffered from Munchausen by proxy and subjected her daughter to unnecessary medical treatments
- The TikTok video was part of a trend called "We listen and we don't judge" posted by influencer Natalie Reynolds
- Blanchard claimed the video was meant to demonstrate accountability and growth, not minimize the murder
What's Next
Blanchard has apologized for the video's reception and the pain it caused. While no legal proceedings are connected to this social media controversy, the incident has renewed public debate over her rehabilitation and whether her actions demonstrate genuine accountability nearly a decade after the murder.
Sources: Crime Online, TMZ