Mommy Dead and Dearest

Mommy Dead and Dearest is a 2017 American documentary film directed by Nanette Burstein, which tells the shocking story of Dee Dee Blanchard and her daughter Gypsy Rose. The documentary delves into the complexities of their relationship, which initially appeared idyllic but was actually a façade for a deeply manipulative and controlling dynamic. Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose presented themselves as a devoted mother-daughter duo. They would often appear on television shows and charity events, giving the impression that they were living a fairy tale life of love and devotion. However, their seemingly perfect relationship was a construct designed to garner sympathy and attention from others. Dee Dee had a history of fabricating stories about Gypsy Rose's health and medical conditions, claiming that her daughter was born with a rare genetic disorder that left her wheelchair-bound from an early age. Gypsy Rose was often dressed in a wheelchair and suffered from apparent physical limitations, which Dee Dee attributed to her daughter's supposed condition. However, this was actually a ruse to garner attention and sympathy from the public. Dee Dee manipulated everyone around her, including her family, friends, and medical professionals, to further her own agenda of sympathy and fundraising. Behind the scenes, Gypsy Rose was living a nightmare. Dee Dee was a master manipulator who exercised complete control over her daughter's life. She dictated every aspect of Gypsy Rose's daily routine, from what she wore to what she ate. Gypsy Rose was not allowed to make her own decisions or express her own desires. Dee Dee isolated her from the world, creating an environment that was emotionally and psychologically suffocating. Dee Dee's motivations for manipulating Gypsy Rose were twofold. Firstly, she craved attention and sympathy for herself, which she received in abundance from her portrayal of a devoted mother caring for a chronically ill daughter. Secondly, Dee Dee was suffering from her own mental health issues, including delusional disorder and Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Her manipulations of Gypsy Rose were a manifestation of her own deep-seated desires for validation and control. Gypsy Rose began to rebel against her mother's suffocating control when she entered her teenage years. She started to develop her own interests and desires, which put her in direct conflict with Dee Dee's rigid expectations. Gypsy Rose started secretly using social media and building a life online that was vastly different from the one her mother had created for her. As Gypsy Rose gained independence and confidence, she began to question the truth of her supposed medical conditions and the reasons behind her mother's manipulations. She started to build a supportive community online, which included a group of people who were fascinated by her online persona and wanted to help her escape her mother's grasp. Gypsy Rose's desire for independence and self-discovery led her into a forbidden love affair with a man much older than her, Nicholas Godejohn. The two met online and began a secret relationship, which further alienated Dee Dee from her daughter. Meanwhile, Dee Dee's mental health issues worsened, and her need for control and dominance intensified. On June 14, 2015, Dee Dee was found dead in her home, with wounds from a kitchen knife attack. Gypsy Rose, then 23 years old, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The investigation that followed revealed the shocking details of Dee Dee's manipulations and Gypsy Rose's desperate attempts to escape her mother's grasp. The documentary film Mommy Dead and Dearest presents a complex and nuanced exploration of the twisted relationship between Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose. It raises questions about the nature of control, manipulation, and the lengths to which individuals will go to maintain power over others. The film also highlights the consequences of unchecked mental health issues and the difficulties of navigating the boundaries between reality and fantasy. Ultimately, the story of Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of manipulating and controlling others. It is a sobering reminder that the line between truth and fiction can be easily blurred, and that the need for control and validation can lead individuals to commit unspeakable acts of cruelty.