Disturbing Hulu True Crime Drama Rises Charts Upon Real Prisoner Release: “I wish her normalcy, peace and privacy”

Hulu
Joey King (as Gypsy Rose Blanchard), photo: Brownie Harris / ©Hulu / Courtesy Everett Collection

Gypsy Rose Blanchard survived one of the most extreme cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy ever to hit mainstream media. She was also sent to prison for the murder of her mother, whom she suffered various abuses from since birth. Because the story garnered a ton of media attention, some Hollywood decided to cash in on the case, and thus, a scripted drama was born.

Due to its beloved cast and warm reception, the controversy surrounding how producers obtained the rights to Blanachard’s story was swept under the rug. Either way, many new fans have decided to check out the drama upon Blanchard’s release from prison. And that’s likely why The Act is in the Hulu charts this week. 

Per the Hulu synopsis, “Dee Dee Blanchard is overprotective of her daughter, Gypsy, who is trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her mother. Gypsy’s quest for independence opens up a Pandora’s box of secrets, which ultimately leads to murder. The stranger-than-fiction true-crime series is based on a 2016 BuzzFeed article that detailed the shocking 2015 crime. Oscar winner Patricia Arquette and Oscar nominee Chloë Sevigny star in the Hulu original series.”

Also Read: Too Close to Home: Why Were Brazilians Outraged by This True Crime Series?

Nick Antosca and Michelle Dean created The Act, which stars Patricia Arquette, Joey King, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, and Calum Worthy. The Hulu original ran for 8 episodes in 2019.

The show briefly came under fire when people discovered that Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who was serving an unjust prison sentence at the time, was not compensated for their use of her story. At one time, Blanchard said she would be taking legal action, and we sort of hope she does.

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This week the internet has been celebrating Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s release from prison. It has been a joy to see her finally living life as a free person after being robbed of her life so far. 

See what Twitter is saying all of this:

If you want to get the truth behind this terrifying tale of maternal betrayal then I recommend the (HBO) Max documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest instead. You could also check out Blanchard’s interviews from over the years. Her case is another in the long list of people the justice system failed to protect but then punished for taking matters into their own hands. 

If you are also happy that Gypsy Rose Blanchard is finally free and safe, we can be friends at @misssharai.

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