Midwest
Gypsy Rose Blanchard becomes overnight internet star after prison release
There aren’t many social media stars who have been convicted of second-degree murder, but Gypsy Rose Blanchard has amassed millions of followers, seemingly overnight, since she was released from a decade-long prison sentence last week.
Blanchard, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016, when she was 24, for her role in plotting to kill her abusive mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, in their Missouri home in 2015 with help from her former boyfriend at the time.
“Hey everyone, this is Gypsy. I’m finally free!” Blanchard said in a video posted to her Instagram page, which now has 6.1 million followers, after her release. “I just want to send a quick video to thank everyone 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.”
Blanchard has also been promoting her upcoming book with co-authors Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani titled “Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom,” set to be released Jan. 9, as well as her three-night Lifetime special, “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard,” set to premiere between Friday and Sunday.
GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD TAKES TO SOCIAL MEDIA AFTER PRISON RELEASE: ‘FINALLY FREE’
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016, when she was 24, for her role in plotting to kill her abusive mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, in their Missouri home in 2015 with help from her former boyfriend at the time. (Lifetime/A&E)
“After a lifetime of silence, I finally get to use my voice to share my story and speak my truth,” Blanchard said in an October statement announcing the show. “As a survivor of relentless child abuse, this docuseries chronicles my quest for liberation and journey through self-discovery. I am unapologetically myself and unafraid to expose the hidden parts of my life that have never been revealed until now.”
The 32-year-old has posted photos of herself with her new husband, Ryan Anderson, whom she married while in prison, and even defended him from online “haters.”
GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD, WHO PLOTTED THE MURDER OF HER ABUSIVE MOTHER, RELEASED FROM PRISON
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has amassed millions of followers on Instagram and TikTok. (Lifetime/A&E)
“Ryan, don’t listen to the haters. I love you, and you love me. We do not owe anyone anything. Our family is who matters. If you get likes and good comments great, if you get hate then whatever because THEY DON’T MATTER. I love you,” she wrote in a comment on her husband’s Instagram page.
Experts believe Dee Dee Blanchard had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological illness in which Dee Dee projected fake illnesses onto her daughter in an effort to receive attention or material items out of sympathy for the victim.
Dee Dee convinced Gypsy that she had a litany of illnesses, including leukemia, and was years younger than her actual age.
Experts believe Dee Dee Blanchard had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a psychological illness in which Dee Dee projected fake illnesses onto her daughter in an effort to receive attention or material items out of sympathy for the victim. (Lifetime/A&E)
She also forced her daughter to sit in a wheelchair, made her take medication she did not need, shaved her hair, removed her teeth and fed her through a tube in her stomach.
The recent social media star has also been receiving tens of thousands of comments on her social media praising her for her bravery and quick return to her new life.
Dee Dee convinced Gypsy that she had a litany of illnesses, including leukemia, and was years younger than her actual age. (Lifetime/A&E)
“She may be out of prison but she’s still serving 24/7,” reads one Instagram comment on a selfie Blanchard posted Tuesday.
Others have taken to defending Blanchard from those calling her a “murderer.”
GYPSY ROSE BLANCHARD TELLS DR. PHIL ABOUT GRIM MOMENT HER MOTHER WAS MURDERED: ‘IT ALL WENT QUIET’
Dee Dee forced her daughter to sit in a wheelchair, made her take medication she did not need, shaved her hair, removed her teeth and fed her through a tube in her stomach. (Investigation Discovery)
“I’m really sick of all the people calling her a murderer when she wasn’t even the one that actually killed her mom and it was self-defense,” one Instagram user wrote. “She felt there was nothing else she could do. her mom was literally abusing her, beating her, chaining her to the bed just for wanting to live a normal life as a teenager.”
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Blanchard and her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Paul Godejohn, were arrested in connection with Dee Dee’s fatal stabbing in 2015. The next year, Blanchard was sentenced to a decade behind bars, while Godejohn was sentenced to life.
Blanchard’s case has been the subject of several documentaries and feature films. (Investigation Discovery)
Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson said at the time that “while the evidence in this case clearly established that Gypsy Blanchard was guilty of murder and that the murder was neither justifiable nor excusable, the amended charge and 10-year sentence fairly and justly holds Gypsy Blanchard accountable to the law while also taking into account the extreme mitigating circumstances of the nearly two decades of systematic and purposeful abuse of Gypsy Blanchard by her mother to facilitate her mother’s fraudulent schemes.”
Blanchard’s case has been the subject of several documentaries and feature films, including HBO’s “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” “Gypsy’s Revenge” by Investigation Discovery, Hulu’s “The Act” and most recently, Lifetime’s “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard.”
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The regular Missouri boys high school basketball season is closing fast, and separation is finally happening. At this point, records matter but context matters more. Who you’ve beaten. How you’ve won. Who is trending upward versus who is just surviving.
The margin for error is shrinking. Conference races are being decided. District brackets are looming. A couple of these teams are playing to defend expectations. Others are building momentum at exactly the right time. A few are sliding. And a handful are peaking in a way that makes them dangerous in March.
This edition reflects performance, trajectory, quality wins, and overall body of work. Some teams held steady. Some climbed. One made a massive leap. Here’s where things stand heading into the stretch run.
Previous Rank: 1
Ranked wins over Westminster and Rolla should sharpen this group for a playoff run where anything short of a state title would feel like a disappointment. The expectation isn’t just to win — it’s to dominate.
Previous Rank: 2
Chaminade split its season series with De Smet after a 58-56 win. Senior guard Tricey Collins provided a spark with 14 points in the victory.
Previous Rank: 3
An 83-50 win over Miller Career Academy proved this team can dominate major-city competition. Senior wing Sutton Shook broke the school record by connecting on 10 three-pointers in a single game.
Previous Rank: 5
A 72-59 win over Webster Groves highlighted this team’s quality. Senior guard and SIUE signee Kain McCaskill scored 21 points. A matchup with second-ranked Chaminade is set for Friday night.
Previous Rank: 4
The undefeated season ended with a road loss to 17-5 Creighton Prep (NE). Games against KC Center and SLUH will close out the regular season.
Previous Rank: 6
Benton controls its own destiny down the stretch. At 22-1, this group has a legitimate chance to reach 25 regular-season wins. A memorable team that will be talked about for years.
Previous Rank: 9
Kickapoo impressed in a 71-60 win over rival Nixa. Senior guard Reese Kimrey led the way. The Chiefs have strong buy-in and chemistry and are emerging as the favorite to come out of SWMO in Class 6.
Previous Rank: 7
Four games in one week began with a road loss to Cardinal Ritter. Wins over Lift for Life, Whitfield, and Holt closed the week on a strong note. Still, the Rams’ margin for error became noticeably slimmer.
Previous Rank: 10
A win over SLUH positioned the Golden Griffins to finish second in the MCC. Junior forward Chase Duke scored 27 points, while sophomore guard Omar Long added 17, including five three-pointers.
Previous Rank: 11
A home loss to Chaminade last Friday decided the MCC championship. The Spartans are likely to see them again in districts, setting up a potential rematch of last year’s game of the year.
Previous Rank: 14
This team continues to improve. The Tigers are playing their best basketball of the season. Wins over Blue Springs South and Lee’s Summit North position them for a 20-win campaign.
Previous Rank: 15
A win over Priory was followed by a competitive loss to nationally ranked Principia. Junior guard Will Powers scored 25 points and recently visited Southern Illinois and Austin Peay.
Previous Rank: 8
A heartbreaking two-point loss to McCluer North was followed by a loss to Vashon. Both games came in tough environments. With Scottie Adkinson leading the way, this team remains competitive, but it was a week that resulted in a drop.
Previous Rank: 12
A loss to Liberty was followed by a win over Park Hill. This group looks different from last season’s squad, but the ceiling remains high.
Previous Rank: Unranked
Unranked to 14th — and no, that’s not a mistake. The Lions have built serious momentum. A win over MICDS made a statement, and follow-up victories over CBC and Normal Community (IL) prove this surge is legitimate. This is not a team anyone wants to face in the Class 6 playoffs.
Previous Rank: 13
Jackson hosts Sikeston on Friday night in a major matchup. The Bulldogs handed them their only loss of the season earlier this year.
Previous Rank: 17
Wins over Troy Buchanan and Fort Zumwalt West have this team trending toward 22-23 regular-season wins. The Spartans have now won 13 straight games.
Previous Rank: 18
St. Dominic has not lost since January 16. Six-foot-seven junior forward Nolan Struckmann continues to evolve into a versatile, do-it-all player gaining statewide attention.
Previous Rank: 19
One of the most complete teams in Kansas City. A dangerous group capable of beating anyone in the area during the postseason.
Previous Rank: 20
A rivalry matchup with Hickman awaits Tuesday night. It’s one of the final tests in what has been a strong season on the south side of Columbia.
Previous Rank: 21
The Jaguars have done enough to be considered a top Class 6 contender. An upcoming matchup with Staley will help determine next week’s order.
Previous Rank: 16
Rolla closes the season with a challenging stretch against Borgia, Orchard Farm, and Union — all teams with at least 14 wins.
Previous Rank: 22
The Bulldogs sit near the top of Class 5. A matchup with Jackson looms large as the regular season wraps up.
Previous Rank: 24
Wins over McCluer and Parkway Central keep Marquette inside the Top 25. Senior guard Brody Owen scored 47 points against Parkway Central, setting a new school record.
Previous Rank: Unranked
The Stars picked up key wins over Hazelwood East and Webster Groves this week. Senior Mekhi Williams has elevated his play down the stretch.
First Generation Nebraska is seeking applications from University of Nebraska-Lincoln students, faculty, staff and alumni who wish to serve as members of the First Generation Nebraska Advisory Board. The board meets three times a semester during the academic year to provide feedback to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor’s Office regarding how to best support first-generation students, staff and faculty.
In addition, board members commit to active participation in First Generation Nebraska events and pledge to co-lead and support first-gen initiatives. The term of service is for two consecutive academic years. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Feb. 27.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s First Generation Nebraska initiative helps first-generation college scholars connect with first-gen faculty and staff advocates to establish a sense of community and belonging on campus and provide students with the support they need to persist to graduation. Established in 2017 by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, First Generation Nebraska distributes buttons, t-shirts and office placards to promote first-gen visibility, organizes networking and social receptions and provides professional development workshops and book clubs for faculty and staff on supporting first-generation scholars’ needs.
In 2025, FirstGen Forward named UNL a “Champion Institution.” As a Champion Institution, UNL is part of a network of institutions committed to serving as role models for other institutions, sharing evidence-based practices and resources, generating knowledge and building upon our first-generation student success efforts.
For questions, contact First Gen Nebraska Advisory Board co-chairs Steven Jara, deputy director and deputy state forester, Nebraska Forest Service, or Amy Goodburn, senior associate vice chancellor and dean of undergraduate education.
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