Life After Lockup: Gypsy Rose's Controversial Series, Explained

Life After Lock Up: Gypsy Rose’s Controversial Series Explained

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re unpacking the controversy behind Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s new series, “Life After Lock Up.”

In one of the most shocking crimes of the 2010s, Blanchard pled guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her mother, Dee Dee. A victim of munchausen by proxy syndrome, Gypsy was physically, emotionally, and medically controlled by Dee Dee her entire life. She was sentenced in 2016, though the context behind the slaying led to a nationwide “Free Gypsy” movement. While behind bars, Gypsy’s cult following turned her into a viral meme, a victim to rally behind, and a cultural icon. Supporters eagerly counted down to her December 2023 release. But now, after finishing a seven-year prison stint, sweet Gypsy Rose’s release party has turned sour.

With rumors about her chaotic new life swirling for months, “Life After Lock Up” aims to answer burning questions about Gypsy’s concerning transition to the real world, like her peculiar social media presence, hasty marriage, and subsequent divorce. Through this eight-part series, we’ll finally get a more introspective look at the woman whose actions divided the country. So what have we learned so far and what is Gypsy hoping to get out of her latest TV deal? Here’s everything you need to know about Gypsy’s controversial new show, and whether it seems to be altering her image for better or worse.

The Two Sides of Gypsy

There have always been two dominant public perceptions of Gypsy: Gypsy the victim and Gypsy the perpetrator. There’s no denying she suffered unimaginable anguish at the hands of her own mother, creating this idea of Gypsy as a wounded young girl who did what she had to do to survive. On the flipside, there’s the shadow of the manipulative and unpredictable Gypsy, who baited her lover, Nick Godejohn, into killing her mother, and who can’t be trusted. When it was announced that she would star in yet another Lifetime show, this time documenting her life after prison, there was a mixture of cheers and groans. While many were morbidly curious and eager to watch, others saw it as a cash grab by a convicted criminal who shouldn’t be afforded public attention or adoration. Moreover, the new series could be regarded as yet another in a line of recent shows that profit from a heinous crime while bolstering the perpetrator as a potentially likable figure.

Regardless of which camp you fall into, there’s still the question of why a woman who’s finally experiencing true freedom and deserves privacy would consent to a reality show. This certainly isn’t the first time Gypsy’s past is being rehashed. The 2019 Hulu series “The Act” served as a dramatized account of Gypsy’s life and crime, and she was very vocally against it, stating that she quote, “wasn’t consulted or paid for the show” and that it negatively affected her life in prison. It’s logical, then, that she would want to right these wrongs through her own testimonies, which she’s done in a series of prison interview specials. When asked why she allowed a fleet of cameras to follow her in “Life After Lock Up,” she insists that she’s outgrown the image of Gypsy the prisoner and is ready for the next chapter. Eager to speak her truth on her terms, she even penned a book in prison and plans to release another memoir in the future. However, Gypsy’s wishful idea of who she would be post-release didn’t entirely pan out yet, and her new persona began to shake up public perception once again.

Gypsy’s release was highly publicized, with fans clamoring for every new paparazzi photo of her out in the world. But it wouldn’t be long before a whole slew of supporters turned on her. One of the first major critiques she received was in response to the way she took to social media. This claim that fame was never in the equation has come under fire considering the endless stream of deals and appearances Gypsy has under her belt. Even if the goal was to advocate for other survivors, most of her early days on social media involved selfies, clapbacks at haters, and salacious comments about her sex life. On her Instagram, she told her followers, “I thought that once I got out of prison, I'd come out and I'd enjoy social media like the next person. Taking selfies of myself in the mirror and just acting goofy and everything.” Though this seems innocent, fans were quick to police her pages with demands of how to conduct herself online. This is ironic, considering many of these followers had been cheering on her life as a free woman just weeks before. Gypsy had been essentially goaded into becoming a social media star, then blasted for earning influencer status overnight.3 In a sense, she’s right, because the public was never going to leave her alone. While locked up, many constructed a fantastical vision of who Gypsy would be, then lashed out every time she didn’t fit their idea of a proper post-release persona. But how should a woman who was abused, conspired to kill her abuser, served prison time, had TV shows created about her, became a tabloid sensation, and was forced into the spotlight really act?

In reality, this tightrope walk was impossible—be free but be modest, be proud but be regretful, be open but be guarded, be evocative but not provocative. Eventually, Gypsy’s comment sections were flooded by detractors singing the same song as her original skeptics. Talks of a divorce from her husband, Ryan Anderson, generated accusations that she’d used him, likely in a confirmation of allegations that she used Nick. Pictures of her fresh nose job enraged followers who viewed this desire for cosmetic surgery as another vain bid for stardom, afforded by the money she earned through murder podcasts and network deals. Followers reprimanded her for being annoying, grating, and overexposed, as if they had no part in generating all of this interest about her in the first place. Tired of being under a microscope, Gypsy wiped all of her social media. Though she’s since reemerged to advertise her latest show “Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up.” So what’s happened so far in the series, and will it put her back in good graces or serve as the last straw?

An Early Series Recap

“Life After Lock Up” kicks off with Gypsy’s final days in prison. During the premiere, we’re introduced to her then-husband, Ryan, who’d previously received some public ire for involving himself with a deeply vulnerable woman. Despite many finding it creepy or perhaps advantageous that he’d fall for an infamous felon, they confidently profess their undeniable love for each other. When they’re reacquainted out in the real world, it’s fireworks, but also a bit awkward. It’s to be expected given their situation, and they take time to question what their life together will actually be like. She innocently gushes over her first cell phone and is giddy to buy new shoes, but during their outing, they’re immediately confronted by paparazzi. It’s a swift reminder that a life of notoriety comes at a cost, and the public’s hunger for Gypsy content can’t be sated. It’s also acknowledged that because she’s under parole, she’s still accountable to the department of Corrections—an obstacle she’ll repeatedly contend with.

Her reunion with her family is bittersweet, but in the second episode there’s a sense that Gypsy isn’t truly prepared for the real world’s challenges, and the shadow of her mother is still looming over her. She’s infantilized, in a way, by both her parole officers, who are just doing their job, and her family, who are just being protective.1 Having been sheltered her whole life, Gypsy begins to resent the way others try to shield her.2 Meanwhile, Ryan’s intentions become blurred as he continues to complain about one or two paparazzi following them, while simultaneously filming his every move for Lifetime and telling strangers who he’s with.3 He also pushes against any mention of Gypsy’s ex, Ken, and even begins to badmouth her family.4 It’s hinted at that this desire to control a woman who once lived as a puppet could spark their marital issues.5

What’s Next In The Saga?

What’s perhaps most tragic about Gypsy’s story is that she went from Dee Dee’s pawn, to state prisoner, to tabloid specimen for the public to prop up, tear down, pick apart, and psychoanalyze. Given the circumstances, it’s doubtful she’ll ever have a fully “normal” life, but she now has an opportunity to live as the woman she truly wants to be. It’s to be expected that she’ll make new mistakes as she navigates a difficult and, at times, unwelcoming world. Though she carries an unprecedented amount of baggage and trauma, a positive breakthrough is possible with the right support.

What does the right support look like though, and is she getting it? Unfortunately, The “Life After Lock Up” season trailer teases a lot of turmoil: struggles with self-image, breakdowns from attackers online, battles with Ryan, and a shocking reunion with her ex-fiance Ken. The sensationalized reality TV nature of the show plays on the explosive drama in her personal life, which doesn’t seem like the kind of attention Gypsy needs during her healing process. Even if she invited the cameras in, there’s no guarantee that the story the editors tell will ultimately line up with her goals when signing on. As of now, it’s unclear whether these developments will garner Gypsy some lost sympathy or pile onto her “villain era.” But if there’s one takeaway we should all be looking for, it’s Gypsy’s candid wishes of how she expects to be treated and what she hopes tomorrow brings.

Do you think it was a good or bad idea for her Gypsy to participate in “Life After Lock Up?” Share your thoughts below.