You may have heard of the name Gypsy Rose sometime in the past ten years or even recently. She is a famous victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a form of mental illness and child abuse where a child’s caretaker fabricates illnesses. Her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, started claiming Gypsy was sick when she was just a toddler, leading to Gypsy believing she had a number of ailments ranging from muscular dystrophy and leukemia.
From the age of eight, Dee Dee forced Gypsy to be in a wheelchair and use a feeding tube. This abuse continued with Gypsy receiving multiple surgeries which she did not need, until she finally discovered the truth. She then conspired online with Nicholas Godejohn, a man she met on a Christian dating site, to kill her mother in 2015. The act of murder was only committed by Godejohn, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Gypsy, on the other hand, pled guilty to second-degree murder for being an accomplice and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She was recently released on December 23, 2023, being granted parole after serving 8 years. This leads to the question, what is she doing now with her newfound freedom?
Gypsy walked into prison at the age of 24 with nothing except trauma and a boyfriend, and came out at the age of 32 with an ex-fiance and a husband. She married her husband, Ryan Scott Anderson, in 2022 while still behind bars. He is a middle school special education teacher from the same state as Gypsy: Louisiana. Their romance had swung into motion in 2020 when Ryan decided to write a letter, and soon after they started regularly exchanging emails. On his third visit, he snuck in an engagement ring on a necklace and proposed to Gypsy. They got married in July 2022 in a small prison ceremony, but are planning to hold another celebration once she is free with all of their friends and families.
A new perspective on her life is presented in the recently released ebook, “Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom,” which contains previously unseen accounts of her family history and interviews from her time in prison. She explores parts of her past trauma such as how her mother had purposely portrayed her dad as a “deadbeat” (neglecting his responsibilities as a parent) despite his constant support, and how the manipulation she suffered has resulted in trust issues. She says, “The one person I did know how to trust had betrayed my trust for my whole life.” To add on, Gypsy dissects the complexities of her mixed emotions concerning her mother, despising her because of the abuse yet still missing her. Her mother also suffered abuse as a child from her father, and then was divorced, making Gypsy think the mental illness which plagued her mother resulted from the fear of another betrayal and being left by her own child.
A surprising result of her release was the growth of her social media. She has gathered over 8.3 million Instagram followers and 9.8 million TikTok followers, and posts pictures of her and her husband enjoying their life together. She hopes to be able to use her large platform to spread awareness about Munchausen syndrome by proxy and support other victims. However, in a recent interview, Gypsy states her main goal is to spend time with those around her and settle into her new normal. She mentioned re-introducing herself to people she previously knew, describing her past self as a “fraud.”
The story of Gypsy Rose is one that shocked the world and circulated in the media for a long time as a result. Because of the amount of attention the case received, nearly all the details of Gypsy’s past life have been revealed to the public. This causes some individuals to think they have the right to throw judgment upon Gypsy, thinking they know her as a person. Looking at her and her husband’s posts, the comment sections are flooded with hate comments bringing up her mother’s murder. Gypsy is actively trying to move on with her life after suffering an unimaginably scarring childhood. Her past is the last thing she needs to be reminded of. If you want to know more about her case, check out her ebook, or if you want to simply support her on her recovery journey, follow her on her social media accounts.
Sources:
Kaplan, Anna. “Who Is Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Husband? What to Know about Ryan Scott Anderson.” TODAY.Com, TODAY, 7 Jan. 2024, www.today.com/popculture/gypsy-rose-blanchard-husband-ryan-scott-anderson-rcna131851.
Richards, Bailey. “Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Husband ‘snuck’ Her Engagement Ring into Prison before Proposing to Her.” Peoplemag, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2024, people.com/gypsy-rose-husband-snuck-her-engagement-ring-into-prison-8424685.
Kettler, Sara. “The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother – Biography.” Biography, 28 Dec. 2023, www.biography.com/crime/gypsy-rose-blanchard-mother-dee-dee-murder.
Pérez-Moreno, Heidi. “Gypsy Rose Blanchard Releases a New E-Book with … – The Washington Post.” Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024, www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/01/10/gypsy-rose-blanchard-ebook-released/.
Couto, Sarah Do. “Gypsy Rose Blanchard Reflects on Her Crime, Fame and Married Life – National.” Global News, Global News, 11 Jan. 2024, globalnews.ca/news/10218547/gypsy-rose-blanchard-ryan-anderson-documentary-interview-lifetime/.
