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If you thought Joan Crawford’s Mommie Dearest performance won the Worst Mother award, get ready, because the unbelievable case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard will blow you away.
The true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard captivated the nation as it contained all the high-intensity elements of love, hate, betrayal, and murder that make for shocking headlines. The mother-daughter duo seemed like the ultimate example of “triumph over tragedy” with Dee Dee playing the role of doting mother to Gypsy during her lifelong battle with cancer and other health issues. There was only one catch — Gypsy was never sick.
When Dee Dee Blanchard was found murdered in July 2015, it was ultimately revealed that not only was Gypsy a perpetrator but she was also a victim, of her mother’s Munchausen Syndrome By Proxy. In this bizarre true crime story, where fact turned out to be stranger than fiction, it’s no wonder so many TV shows and documentaries are dedicated to unraveling it. In fact, we decided to explore all the shows, docs, and series that cover the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case.
Mommy Dead and Dearest– 2017
When the story of Gypsy Rose first broke in July 2015 the public was horrified. They wanted to know all the dirty details, not just of the murder but of the years leading up to it. It seemed impossible that Dee Dee Blanchard fooled so many people, including friends, family, doctors, and even high-profile organizations like The Ronald McDonald House, Make A Wish, and Habitat For Humanity.
Mommy Dead and Dearest was the first of the documentaries about the bizarre family to appear on the scene. Created by HBO the documentary detailed the years of deception that made up the tangled web of lies that Dee Dee Blanchard spun. It featured interviews with doctors, neighbors, friends, and even Gypsy Rose’s father, who was also reportedly fooled by Dee Dee’s lies.
The documentary was directed by Erin Lee Carr who spent time with Gypsy in prison and who reportedly also had a complicated relationship with her own parents according to her interview in The Cut. Her empathy for the complex story shines through in the documentary.
Gypsy’s Revenge – 2018
Gypsy’s Revenge is the Investigation Discovery three-part series that dives into the details of that infamous day in July 2015. The series explores the in-depth details of the murderous scheme contrived by Gypsy and her online paramour Nicholas Godejohn. It reveals court documents, and police interviews as well as exploring the motive and method behind the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard.
The series aired shortly after Mommy Dead and Dearest and followed the unfolding of the case, providing even more insight into the motive. The series explored the online romance between Gypsy and Nick including their illicit message exchanges. The police interviews with Godejohn are also shocking and the details provided about the day of Dee Dee’s death are heinous. Check out even more details in this three-part series available on Apple TV, Hulu, and Investigation Discovery.
20/20: The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard – 2018
The Gypsy Rose Blanchard case was one of the most shocking of our time. Not only did it involve matricide, an illicit love affair, and a rare mental diagnosis, but it also involved massive fraud from some big names in the nonprofit community. The mother-daughter duo had their home built by Habitat for Humanity, had a Make-A-Wish funded trip, and also received funds and other forms of support from Ronald McDonald House and Children’s Mercy Hospital. Not to mention the thousands donated by friends and neighbors through various individual and community fundraisers. Yes, the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case received a lot of attention and 20/20 came in to cover it all.
The in-depth exclusive dove into some of the fraud aspects of the case dropping bombs in never-before-seen interviews that only 20/20 could wrangle up. The new details the interviews revealed you will just have to see to believe. Check out the 20/20 episode The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard on Hulu.
The Act – 2019
The Act created by Hulu, was the first and so far only, fictionalized series based on the story. It cast Hollywood heavy hitters such as Patricia Arquette to portray Dee Dee Blanchard and Joey King as Gypsy Rose. The series took a look at the Blanchard’s life behind closed doors and what the day-to-day interactions between the mother and daughter might have looked like.
The series took an in-depth look at the unusual relationship of the duo and explored the interpersonal dynamics of the pair based on recovered messages and additional sources. While some creative liberties were taken it sticks fairly closely to interviews, court documents, and documented message exchanges between the family members and Gypsy and her paramour Nick.
It creates a riveting tale of betrayal, deceit, and ultimately murder. Besides, with such Hollywood hotshots playing the roles you know it’s going to be good! Check it out on Hulu.
Snapped: Gypsy Rose and Nick- A Love To Die For –2019
Snapped on Oxygen features its own series on “Killer Couples” and after the July 2015 murder of Dee Dee Blanchard, the unusual pair behind it made the list. The series mainly focuses on the young couple’s forbidden romance and their plot to gain Gypsy’s freedom through any means necessary. It also reveals Nick’s shocking confession and the fact not only was he not particularly remorseful–but that he would do it again. In an especially chilling moment, Nick looks at the camera stating that he might have “done it differently” but that he would still “do it again.”
The episode explores the messages and unfurling romance between the two young lovebirds and how their plan began to disintegrate almost from the beginning. It’s a fascinating look into a different and more intimate angle of the case–the couple’s relationship. Check out this series that captures when young love goes so wrong.
The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard – 2023
The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard is a six-part series produced by Lifetime that takes viewers behind the scenes and into the cell of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Despite her case receiving worldwide attention, there are still parts of her story that remain unknown, it is here the series fills in the gaps.
In fact, while her story has been told by the media many times over, this is the first time Gypsy Rose herself will be speaking out about her case and her story. Filmed shortly before her release date, she reveals she wants to tell her truth, before becoming a free woman for the first time in her life. The series gives viewers an unprecedented look at the girl behind the headlines, and what her plans are post-release. The series airs on January 5th, 2023, and will release the episodes in the six-part series, two at a time.
Gypsy Rose and her mother Dee Dee Blanchard’s story will probably always be making headlines. Especially with Gypsy Rose having been released on December 28, 2023, the story is experiencing a resurgence in the media and collective consciousness. The bizarre twists and turns of the case have kept us all guessing at how the ending will play out, and quite frankly, it is still anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure however, behind the paparazzi, tabloids, and headlines is the sad truth of what one young girl lived through and the terrifying end her mother met at the hands of her daughter’s lover.