Gypsy Rose Blanchard has responded after facing backlash over a TikTok video she made that drew criticism from online users. Blanchard, who served eight years in prison for her role in her mother’s murder, was accused of making light of the situation and having no remorse.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s Latest Viral Moment
On March 21, Blanchard partnered with influencer Natalie Reynolds and participated in the “We Listen, and We Don’t Judge” trend on TikTok. The two women shared their confessions, and one of Blanchard’s statements riled up users.
“I went to prison for eight-and-a-half years because I… my own mom,” to which Reynolds responded, “Oh my god.” “Hey, we listen, and we don’t judge,” Blanchard said. Instead of saying she “killed” her mom, Blanchard made an X gesture with her hands over her neck.
The video has since been played more than 13 million times on TikTok, with thousands sharing their comments. “We listen, and we call a judge,” one stated. “The fact she jokes about it doesn’t seem right to me,” another added. “What??? This is NOT FUNNY AT ALL!! It’s SICK!!!” another commented.
The Media Personality Addressed The Backlash
On March 23, TMZ interviewed Blanchard about the backlash, and she shared how the collaboration came about and her intentions behind doing the TikTok trend.
The media personality said she thought working with Reynolds on the trend was a “good collaboration if done the right way,” since the influencer had also received criticism from the public. In 2024, Reynolds faced severe backlash for a video she made where she pressured a stranger, who said she couldn’t swim, to jump into a lake for $20.
The woman struggled in the water, and instead of helping, she laughed and fled the scene, leaving the fire department to rescue the woman.
“I thought, what if we did the ‘we listen, and we don’t judge’ trend and addressed the harder topics very bluntly. Just owning it and taking accountability for the wrongs we’ve done?” Blanchard explained.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard Understands The Criticism
In her response, Blanchard said she understood why people reacted the way they did to the viral video. The media personality said her followers have been with her because they like to see her “grow.” Admittedly, she said she wasn’t so “in-your-face” about her past and tried something different this time.
“This was the first time I tried a more direct approach, and unfortunately, it wasn’t received the way we hoped,” Blanchard said.
After her release from prison in 2023, Blanchard gained a massive following. She has released two books about her life, and starred in the documentary series “Gypsy Rose” Life After Lock Up.” Despite talking about her mother’s murder in the past, the media personality has never been as direct as she was in the video.
Gypsy Rose Apologized For Including Her Mother’s Murder In The TikTok Trend
When asked whether she would still include her mother’s murder in future online trends, Blanchard said, “I don’t think they should be included in trends.” She explained that she thought the video could be framed in such a way that focused on her “accountability and growth,” but that’s not what happened.
“The goal was to end on a more positive or inspirational note, which is why the video later shifts to lighter topics,” she noted. However, online users focused on her statement about killing her own mother instead of the other “lighter” confessions.
Blanchard apologized to the people she offended, saying it wasn’t her intention to make light of her mother’s murder. “I would never joke about my past. So I do apologize if it came off as too abrasive,” she said.
Inside Dee Dee Blanchard’s Murder Case
Blanchard’s mother, Dee Dee, was murdered in June 2015 by Nicholas Godejohn, Blanchard’s then-boyfriend. Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a type of disorder where a caregiver claims that someone in their care needs medical attention despite not needing it.
For years, Blanchard was subjected to a barrage of medical tests, confined to a wheelchair, and was fed through a tube. Dee Dee also claimed her daughter had developmental issues, epilepsy, leukemia, and muscular dystrophy, which were all later found to be untrue.
Blanchard was found guilty of second-degree murder for conspiring with Godejohn to murder Dee Dee. She received a 10-year prison sentence but was released after serving more than eight years. Godejohn remains in prison, serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.