By Valerie Milano
Anaheim, CA (The Hollywood Times) 1/26/24 – Following one of the most infamous criminal cases in recent memory, Lifetime presents The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. This groundbreaking series delves into the narrative of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, whose life became the focal point of public scrutiny following the shocking murder of her mother, Clauddine ‘Dee Dee’ Blanchard. Viewers are granted an accurate scope to Gypsy’s firsthand accounts from behind prison walls. Rose passionately declares, “I wanted to put out something that was very accurate, something that was the truth. So much of what has already been put out there was by people that did not know the ins and outs of my case, or my life. Ultimately, I am the source. No one had the right but me to share my story. That’s why it was important for me to do this docu-series because I didn’t want to continue being haunted by my past. This series is me letting go of my past.”
After Mommy Dead and Dearest and many other outside accounts of the grave misfortune of Gypsy Rose adolescent life, Gypsy, along with the vision of Executive Producer Melissa Moore, finally tells her own story while in prison for murdering her mother in revenge of the severe child abuse due to Munchausen by proxy syndrome. Melissa recalls when the work began in efforts to correctly retell Gypsy’s story, “It actually happened in 2017. Mommy Dead and Dearest had just premiered and when I saw that documentary, I realized that this is the beginning of Gypsy’s story. There was so much more to learn. One of the things I did after watching this documentary is getting all of the medical records. Since 2017 I stayed in contact with Gypsy, and she started to feel comfortable with me to the point where she started to reveal secrets and more abuse. I realized that this is the time to tell her story and she agreed. All the documentaries and the dramatization; the pen was being held by another author. I am really proud that she was able to tell her story in her own way.”
The process of Gypsying telling her own story presented some challenges however the pair was able to work seamlessly together on the project. Moore remembers, “Thankfully the correctional center was very media friendly. I’ve worked with a lot of different prisons that will just not be as warm and welcoming but thankfully the prison was accommodating. I had an hour at a time to talk with Gypsy and that was it, so I had to really prepare with my questions. Going through security there are very staunch requirements for how you present yourself to the prison, you can’t bring in a cell phone, you can’t bring in any devices to keep track of time. Thankfully Gypsy is like an open book, and she was really easy to talk to; I mean we can talk for hours! It was compiled over multiple visits; 3 in prison visits and several recorded calls. About a third of what viewers will see in the documentary are our conversations that range from the abuse, to conversing as girlfriends.”
The docu-series emerges as a testament to Gypsy’s resilience and Moore’s dedication, as they navigate the complexities of abuse, revenge, and the profound human connection that goes beyond prison walls. The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard stands as an unfiltered testament to the power of self-narration, granting Gypsy the agency she fervently claims, breaking free from the shackles of a past she is determined to leave behind. Be sure to download the Lifetime app or visit mylifetime.com to experience the riveting docu-series available until February 6, 2024!
Click below for the interview including The Hollywood Times:
