Weird4 min(s) read
Published 13:22 29 May 2026 GMT
Gypsy Rose Blanchard has weighed in on one of Netflix’s most talked-about true crime documentaries, sharing her thoughts on convicted killer Mackenzie Shirilla and why she believes prison is where the 21-year-old will remain for a long time.
The 33-year-old, who served time for her role in the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard, spoke to TMZ about Netflix’s The Crash and the intense public fascination surrounding Shirilla’s case. The documentary has sparked widespread debate since its release, with viewers divided over whether Shirilla deserves sympathy or whether the film presents her in a more favorable light.
Shirilla was convicted in 2023 of murdering her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and friend Davion Flanagan after prosecutors argued she deliberately drove her vehicle into a brick building at 100mph following an argument with Russo. The judge in the case later described the crash as “hell on wheels.”
Speaking about the documentary, Gypsy revealed she had watched it despite not considering herself a true crime enthusiast.
“I watched all the documentaries that’s currently out,” Gypsy said during the interview.
“Although I watch these documentaries, I’m not a true crime junkie. Some people might think I am, but I’m not. But it did seem interesting, so I did watch it.”
When asked whether she believed the Supreme Court could overturn Shirilla’s conviction, Gypsy dismissed the possibility.
“No, I don’t,” she said.
“After watching the documentary, I don’t think the documentary did her any favors.”
Gypsy, who was released on parole in 2023 after serving eight years in prison, said Shirilla still has significant personal growth ahead of her, despite being eligible for parole after serving 15 years of her sentence.
“She’s gonna have to do a lot of extensive therapy,” Gypsy explained.
“She’s young, and it’s not gonna sink in until maybe 20 years from now.”
She also claimed that parole boards often place considerable weight on the wishes of victims’ families.
“If the victim’s family writes against her parole, she will automatically be denied,” she claimed.
“I’ve seen it happen time and time again.”
She continued: “The time that she’s in prison right now, she needs to grow up and take accountability.”
“The remorse will hit her like a train.”
Gypsy believes genuine remorse may not fully register with Shirilla for years, but said that could eventually change.
“It’s going to hit her like a train,” she said.
“And when that happens, she needs to take those steps to do what she needs to, to make amends with the victim’s family.”
She stressed that any forgiveness would remain entirely in the hands of the victims’ loved ones.
“They don’t have to forgive her by any means,” she added.
The comments come as public interest in Shirilla’s case continues to grow following Netflix’s documentary, with online discussions remaining deeply divided over her guilt, punishment and future.
The interview also touched on the controversial topic of convicted criminals building online followings or making money from their notoriety after leaving prison.
While Gypsy acknowledged the issue is “complicated,” she said she does not believe Shirilla should be allowed to profit from her case.
“I feel like Mackenzie specifically should not benefit from social media or any other kind of avenue,” she explained.
Gypsy contrasted Shirilla’s case with situations involving domestic violence or self-defence, saying she believes abuse survivors should still be able to share their experiences publicly.
But she argued Shirilla’s circumstances are fundamentally different.
“There’s no abuse. There’s no sympathetic story behind it,” she said.
“In her case specifically, no, I don’t think that she should monetize. No, I don’t think she should be an influencer on social media.”
Her remarks have already fuelled further debate online, particularly as many people continue to draw comparisons between the public fascination surrounding both women’s cases. While Gypsy became the subject of documentaries, dramatizations, and viral internet discussion following the murder of Dee Dee Blanchard in 2015, Shirilla’s case has developed a similarly large following after receiving the Netflix documentary treatment.
As conversations around true crime continue to evolve, opinion remains sharply split over where the boundary lies between telling these stories and turning convicted killers into celebrities.
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