Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out after she was hit with backlash and death threats for posting a Mother's Day tribute.
Blanchard was among millions of people who took to social media to recognize Mother's Day on Sunday (12 May), though many viewers took issue with her post following the death of her mother.
Now 32-years-old, Blanchard was released from prison in December after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence for her role in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, who was killed in Missouri in 2015.
On Mother's Day, Blanchard told her followers she wanted to make a video 'basically celebrating the really strong and wonderful women' she has in her life who were 'mother figures' to her over the course of her time in prison.
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She also went on to acknowledge that her 'biological mother is not here to celebrate Mother's Day', adding that she was choosing to 'think the best' of her mom on Mother's Day.
"I think about the good times. I think about her as not what she did to me, but I think about her as a person.
"Was she a good mom? No. Was she the best mom in the world? No. But she was still my mom. So what I choose to feel about her — whether that be guilt, anger, grief, resentment, whatever — that's mine to feel," Blanchard said.
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Blanchard expressed belief 'no one should be able to have an opinion' about Dee Dee except for those who were closest to her, however, her post still resulted in a flurry of criticism.
The backlash included death threats, which Blachard has since reported, and prompted her to clarify her intentions in a statement to TMZ.
She told the publication: "When I said that I hope my mom is proud of me, people are thinking I meant she would be proud of the murder.
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"That is obviously not what I meant. I meant she would be proud of me in heaven, like getting my GED, moving towards independence and learning how to cook, clean, having my own bank account etc."
Blanchard went on to argue that the death of her mom' shouldn’t make [her] exempt from wishing the other women in [her] life a [happy Mother's Day]'.
"I didn’t say this because of my balls and audacity, I did this message because I have women in my life that are supportive," she said.
Blanchard doubled down on her tribute to her mom as she told TMZ she remembered 'the good [her mom] had in her and the good times' on Mother's Day.
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"I don’t think about the abuse or murder," she said. "I miss her and have a lot of guilt and regret."
Topics: Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Social Media, TikTok, Viral, True crime, US News, Parenting
Emily Brown