Patricia Arquette is publicly sharing her concerns about Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s well-known social media fame.
The actress, who portrayed Blanchard’s mother Claudine “Dee Dee” in the Hulu doc-series The Act, told TMZ that Gypsy Rose’s rise in social media seems like a lot.
Although the media fame and constant public spotlight aren’t what she wanted for Gypsy Rose, Patricia Arquette understands it isn’t her place to say how Blanchard should live after being in prison.
Gypsy Rose was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the 2015 murder of her mother. She and her then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn, planned and went through with the murder.
During the murder, Godejohn stabbed Dee Dee numerous times. He and Gypsy Rose then ran off together and were eventually caught at Godejohn’s family home.
After she pled guilty to second-degree murder, she received her 10-year sentence. However, she was granted parole after serving eight years and she was freed in late 2023.
Godejohn was found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Before Blanchard’s release from prison, Godejohn’s legal team filed an appeal.
In the appeal, dated in early Dec. 2023, it was revealed that Godejohn’s counsel had “failed to act as a reasonably competent attorney under the same or similar circumstances by failing to fully investigate and present evidence from a qualified neuropsychologist specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorder to support the diminished capacity defense.”
Tyle Coyle, the public defender of Godejohn, stated the jury should have found his client guilty of second-degree murder. “If he were to get a new trial then it would start over,” Coyle explained. “And there wouldn’t be any previous finding of first-degree or second-degree.”
Patricia Arquette Hoped Everyone Would Be ‘Gentle’ to Gypsy Rose Following Her Prison Release
This isn’t the first time Patricia Arquette has spoken out about Gypsy Rose’s health and well-being. The actress previously stated she hoped the public would be “gentle” to Blanchard following her release from prison.
“She’s all grown and she’s been through a lot,” Arquette explained to PEOPLE at the time. “There’s a weird thing of art imitating life and then the reality. And I hope people are gentle on her. And I hope she enjoys her freedom. No child should ever go through that.”
Patricia Arquette further explained the fascination of Gypsy Rose and her story. She described it all to be unnatural.
Arquette then recalled how her children, Harlow and Enzo, reacted to her even considering the role of playing Dee Dee in The Act. “They’re like, ‘Don’t do that. We know that story. Please, Mom, don’t do that.’ And I’m like, ‘You guys, I’m not going to turn into her. What are you talking about?’”
The series follows Gypsy Rose and Dee Dee Blanchard’s lives leading up to the infamous murder. Dee Dee was infamously known for her abusive behavior towards Gypsy Rose. She also lied about Gypsy Rose’s health throughout the years for attention.
Arquette’s portrayal of Dee Dee earned her a Golden Globe and Emmy.