We all know her story. I’m not minimizing what she went through; it was disgusting. But the attention is starting to get ridiculous.
When Gypsy Rose first made headlines nearly ten years ago, her story shook the nation. Ever since news emerged that she was to be released from prison, she has been thrust back into the spotlight. Stemming from Lifetime’s “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” which were filmed prior to her release, and since her release back in December 2023, Gypsy’s publicity has only increased. From appearing on “The Kardashians” to teasers for her next Lifetime series, “Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup,” the public can’t seem to get enough.
All the media attention and opportunities Gypsy has received imply that the actions that landed her in prison are starting to be rewarded. When examining the timeline from her incarceration to her release, this becomes even more apparent.
In the Prison Confessions series, the narrative shifts from her life with, and the murder of, her mother, to being on the run, to being arrested, and eventually meeting someone through the prison dating system. It exudes this strange ‘happy ending’ vibe that would feel uneasy if we replaced her with someone from a normal background who suddenly snapped, killed their parents, got arrested, and was released.
Gypsy being a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy makes her case more complex. Her sentence was likely enough, given the circumstances and her state of mind at the time. While she is undoubtedly a victim of her mother’s abuse, that doesn’t negate the fact, in the eyes of the law, that she and her then-boyfriend planned and committed murder. Any other person convicted of murder and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment wouldn’t receive half the attention Gypsy did.
In my opinion, someone convicted of murder, regardless of the reason, shouldn’t receive the limelight upon release. Gypsy, and I say this kindly, has been through enough; she deserves a quiet life. When all of this dies down, perhaps we can take a step back as a society and think more carefully about who we give TV shows to.
