Amanda Knox believes Gypsy Rose Blanchard faces 'prison of public opinion', defends her claiming Dee Dee Blanchard 'had it coming'
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: Amanda Knox has come to the defense of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, arguing that the latter now faces "a new kind of prison: the prison of public opinion" as she attempts to rebuild her life after serving an eight-year sentence for her role in her mother's murder.
In an opinion piece for The Free Press, Knox drew parallels between her own experience of being wrongly convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder in Italy in 2007 before she was eventually exonerated in 2015 and the scrutiny and judgment Gypsy now faces after being released from prison in December 2023, as per Daily Mail.
“Gypsy, this is just the beginning. It’s shocking to emerge from prison only to feel like you’re still not free.” @amandaknox warns @GypsyRose_B about “a media environment that caters almost pornographically to our voyeuristic and judgmental tendencies.” https://t.co/IhfcXUhkXQ
— The Free Press (@TheFP) January 13, 2024
Amanda Knox argues Gypsy Rose Blanchard is entitled to share her story on her own terms
While Knox acknowledges that Gypsy was guilty of conspiring to murder her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, she argues that the latter has "served her time" and "doesn't owe anybody anything."
However, Knox warns that the sudden fame and public fascination with Gypsy's horrific backstory may make it harder for her to reintegrate into society.
"When I look at Gypsy, even though she was guilty and I was innocent, I see she is blundering into freedom in the exact same way as I did," wrote Knox, adding that it took over a decade for her to feel in control of her own narrative and no longer "trapped by my own story."
The 36-year-old activist suggests that while Gypsy is entitled to share her story on her own terms, the allure of fame risks overshadowing her identity beyond being a victim of her mother's long-running medical child abuse.
"She is more than the horrible abuse she suffered, she is more than a conspirator to murder," asserted Knox.
Amanda Knox says Gypsy Rose Blanchard's followers believe 'Dee Dee deserved to be murdered'
Gypsy's case garnered widespread attention due to the shocking revelation of her mother's alleged abuse.
According to experts, Dee Dee suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, currently called Factitious disorder imposed on another, a form of mental health disorder where a guardian or caregiver exaggerates or induces medical issues in another person, usually a child, to garner sympathy.
As per reports, Dee Dee subjected Gypsy to false claims of various illnesses, resulting in severe physical and emotional trauma.
Gypsy's then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, eventually stabbed her mother to death in 2015, leading both of them to end up behind bars. While Godejohn received life without parole, Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years.
In her opinion piece, Knox contends that those familiar with the case may believe that Dee Dee "had it coming."
"Gypsy may not realize that many people admire her not because she admits that what she did was wrong or even because she survived and escaped horrific abuse, but because, deep down, they feel that Dee Dee deserved to be murdered," expressed Knox.
Since being released from prison, Gypsy has already appeared in national TV interviews and built a significant social media following documenting her marriage to Ryan Anderson and efforts to move forward.
