– Gypsy Rose Blanchard to be released early from prison
– Convicted for her role in the murder of her mother
– Portrayed by Joey King in Hulu’s “The Act”
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the real-life inspiration behind Hulu’s true-crime series “The Act,” has been granted an early release from prison. Blanchard was portrayed by Joey King in the series and is serving a ten-year sentence for second-degree murder for her role in the 2015 killing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard.
Gypsy pleaded guilty in 2016 to the second-degree murder of her mother, who suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare form of child abuse that involves deliberately causing injury or illness to a child for attention or sympathy. Authorities believe Dee Dee forced Gypsy to use a wheelchair and feeding tube and made her undergo unnecessary surgeries and treatments, scamming well-wishers out of tens of thousands of dollars.
The news of Blanchard’s early release came after she requested five years off her sentence for her time spent working and receiving a GED while in jail. Blanchard originally requested a four-year reduction; however, the correction officials granted her an 11-month reduction, making her projected release date January 2024.
After her release, Gypsy Rose plans to move forward with her life and continue to heal from the trauma she experienced. The real-life events depicted in “The Act” brought attention to Munchausen syndrome by proxy and its lasting effects on victims.