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Gypsy Rose Blanchard has spoken out following backlash over a viral TikTok video in which she referenced her role in the 2015 murder of her mother, Claudine "Dee Dee" Blanchard.
The 34-year-old, who served more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder, faced criticism after participating in the "We Listen, We Don't Judge" trend alongside influencer Natalie Reynolds. In the video, Blanchard said, "I went to prison for eight and a half years because I... my own mom," while making an "X" gesture with her arms, before adding, "Hey, we listen and we don't judge."
The clip quickly gained traction online, amassing millions of views and prompting strong reactions from users, some of whom accused her of making light of a serious and tragic event.
Responding to the backlash in an interview with TMZ published March 23, Blanchard acknowledged that the video did not land as intended. "I understand that my audience has always followed my journey because they like to see me grow," she said. "Usually, I think I can bank on my audience receiving things very well, but I'm not the type of person to be very in your face about my past."
She explained that the video was an attempt to approach her past more directly but admitted it did not resonate with viewers. "This is the first time that I tried something
different in a head-on approach," she said. "Unfortunately, it wasn't received like we wanted."
Blanchard also clarified that she was not trying to make light of her mother's death, explaining that the "X" gesture was used as a workaround to avoid TikTok flagging certain words, while still conveying the meaning without explicitly saying it.
Blanchard said the intention behind the video was to emphasize accountability and personal growth, noting that while they acknowledge their imperfections, the focus was meant to remain on positivity.
Despite her explanation, she ultimately issued an apology. "I do deeply apologize to anyone who may have been offended by it, that was never my intention," she said.
Reflecting on the experience, Blanchard said she would never make jokes about her past and acknowledged that the delivery was wrong.
