The name on everybody's lips is gonna be ... Gypsy.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, pled guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 after conspiring with her then-boyfriend Nick Godejohn to kill her mother, who allegedly suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy (those with this condition make children sick by creating fake symptoms of disease or inducing real ones). The case has been well-documented in the media in both a fictionalized retelling and several documentaries.
Blanchard recently wrapped up her prison sentence – and went straight to social media stardom. She has millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok. She's posting selfies, releasing videos and promoting a new quasi-memoir about her life and time in prison. She found a husband. #gypsyrose alone has 3.3 billion views on TikTok and counting.
"I’m finally free," she commented in one of her TikToks. "I just want to send a quick video to thank everyone one for the massive amount of support that I’ve been getting on social media. Everyone has been really, really nice and supportive. I really appreciate that.”
Her fans, meanwhile, can't get enough and couldn't wait for her release from prison.
They sympathize. They want to meet her. Protect her. Help her transition back into society. Concerned for her return to society, a la Britney Spears post-conservatorship.
Blanchard's popularity makes sense given the storied "true crime" phenomenon – who can't resist piecing together a mystery? – but it won't be long before another story captures the nation's attention.
"The curiosity fades hastily as algorithm-influenced digital publics move on to the next trending story, and Gypsy's transitory celebrity span fails to sustain interest," says Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard 'perfect embodiment' of true crime and celebrity
The Munchausen syndrome by proxy of it all piques interest in Blanchard's story to another level. "This case is especially fascinating because of the complexity," says W. Keith Campbell, an expert on narcissism, personality and cultural change. The narrative: The victim conspires to kill her alleged abuser, serves time and is ready to rejoin the world.
"In many ways, (Blanchard) is the perfect embodiment of the fusion of these two passions (true crime and celebrity)," says David Schmid, associate professor of English at the University at Buffalo. "Combine that fact with the tabloid-like 'truth is stranger than fiction' characteristic of (Blanchard's) story, and you've got a perfect storm of factors coming together to launch both a million memes and what could be a long-standing career in the public eye."
Plus, people put themselves in Blanchard's shoes: "With any true crime, viewers wonder 'could this happen to me?' It makes us curious for the details so we can try to answer that question," says media psychologist Pamela Rutldege.
Why we are so obsessed with Gypsy Rose Blanchard
While Blanchard's story is certainly unique, obsessing over a crime, criminal or court case isn't. Jeffrey Dahmer. Casey Anthony. Heck, even Gwyneth Paltrow's ski trial. Science backs that up.
"True crime activates an automatic physiological response to danger, increasing our attention," Rutledge says. "The unanswered questions amplify our interest as our brains are innately curious as a survival instinct."
People love to bask in the aftermath of such phenomena – like watching a real-life soap opera. "Because audiences followed Gypsy’s case, conviction and prison stint, they want to witness how she reintegrates into society and details the traumatic experiences of her upbringing and incarceration," Williams adds.
It helps that she can "be seen as a somewhat sympathetic character even though she was criminally implicated in the death of her own mother," Campbell adds. "It has all the makings of an interesting story (although not a happy one)."
In case you missed:TikTok tried to solve the Idaho murders. Instead, it fueled an online witch hunt.
What we – and Gypsy Rose Blanchard – need to look out for
Blanchard's turn to the spotlight makes sense given the potential fountain of financial gain. "There is an economic market for infamously incarcerated public figures to function as celebrities and monetize this public curiosity in the true crime media genre," Williams says. "Gypsy personifies the trend with her usage of TikTok to promote a forthcoming ebook, Lifetime Network documentary and other personalized media products."
That said: Don't let your obsession with true crime overall escalate too much, as tempting as it is to salivate over all the drama. It could affect your mental health. "Like food, media content affects how we feel and how we see the world," Rutledge adds. "Preoccupation with true crime can alter a person’s perspective and mood, making the world seem less trust-worthy and more dangerous, increasing anxiety, depression and helplessness."
And Blanchard herself should be careful about embracing fans. They could write her off her as quick as they wrote her in. Kadian Pow, lecturer in sociology and Black studies at Birmingham City University in England, says: "Because she is emerging during a cultural era of the 'Influencer,' people feel like they are helping her by giving her fame on the internet in the hopes that she will go from infamous to famous. This is a kind of power folks on the internet believe they hold – the power to make celebrities and to cancel them."
Contributing: Katie Camero
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