December 28, 2023, marked Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s release from prison following her incarceration under second-degree murder charges for her mother. Her mother, Clauddine Blanchard, suffered from Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a mental illness that entails child abuse in the form of devising fake symptoms or causing real symptoms so the child appears sick. Clauddine also monetized her daughter’s supposed medical conditions through donations. In 2012, Gypsy Rose met her internet boyfriend, Nicholas Godejon, on a Christian dating site; the pair would later conspire to murder Gypsy's mother, with Godejon carrying out the act. While Godejon received a life sentence, Gypsy received a 10-year term with an eight-year parole eligibility period.
Since her release, Gypsy Rose has received fame and popularity across social media platforms. From interviews with The View to podcasts with Vile Files to an up-and-coming docuseries, The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Gypsy has acquired large amounts of support. On her social media platforms, her posts of selfies and outfits have garnered millions of likes and views.
As she rises in popularity as an influencer, there are growing concerns about the potential exploitation of Gypsy’s story for monetary gains. Gypsy uses her own story to gain internet fame, exploiting the trauma she has endured. Social media has allowed Gypsy to rise in fame as an influencer, but why has she amassed the attention and support she currently has? Her fame could be due to a fascination with Gypsy’s story or true crime in general. Fame, however, glorifies Gypsy and the murder of her mother. Social media is an epicenter for the glorification of famous figures and the formation of influencers out of people who could have criminal records. Impressionable followers, mostly of younger ages look up to these influencers without taking into account how social media distorts an influencer's story. Influencers hold great power over their followers, and the influence of someone who was imprisoned, like Gypsy, could have a negative impact on fans.
Various Tiktokers and YouTubers have attempted to reach Gypsy Rose to gain the clout that has followed her. In an interview with The View, Joy Behar neglected to mention Gypsy’s murder of her mother. During the interview, Blanchard stated, “If there is someone out there watching right now, please listen to me, heed my words, that you are not alone in this situation. There are other ways out. I did it the wrong way, so …” to which Behar responded, “No, no, honey, no. Don’t say that. You had no choice.” Through the various media adaptations of her life, people see her as a figure on their screen rather than a human being. While Gypsy has admitted her wrongdoing, the media surrounding her, like Joy Behar, feel they know more about Gypsy and what she has done than Gypsy herself because of the glamorized versions of her that have been presented. Individuals in the media have disregarded her trauma, while others have capitalized on it by making videos using her name for fame.
While Gypsy appears to have a media frenzy surrounding her, many believe she will soon lose this fame. A user on Tik Tok comments that Gypsy is capitalizing on her situation for personal gain. Additionally, the user believes that Godejon should be receiving the same sentence as Gypsy and that she is entirely as guilty as him in the murder of her mother, Dede. People believe that the media is glorifying a killer. These conflicting arguments could mark the beginning of Gypsy’s media downfall as the media may turn against her.