"It's hard to explain, it's like, when I was 14 or 15, I saw something in my eye that kept gnawing at me," Godejohn, whos played by Calum Worthy, tells her. Thinking hes referring to a physical aliment, Gypsy asks if it hurts. Godejohn says its not like a splinter, but more like another personality. "Actually, I think I do have multiple personalities. But don't worry, because there is a good one, it's me Nick. But the other one is dark. Actually he's a vampire; his name is Victor."
Ok...lets back up. If youre not familiar with the true story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard on which The Act is based, here it is in a nutshell. The 27-year-old became famous in 2015 when it was discovered that shed helped her then-boyfriend, Godejohn, murder her mother Dee Dee. He stabbed her to death in her and Gypsys Missouri home, and the pair fled to his home in Wisconsin afterward. Gypsy had been suffering years of abuse from Dee Dee, who had Munchausen syndrome by proxy , a disorder that causes people to pretend that someone in their care (in this case, Gypsy) is sick in order to get sympathy and attention.
Dee Dee subjected Gypsy to years of medical treatments she didnt need , and forced her to use a wheelchair and feeding tube, even though in reality, she was perfectly healthy. As Gypsy got older, she realized she wasnt actually ill and the whole thing was a ruse, but she felt trapped by her mother and the situation shed created.
In real life, its unclear if Godejohn, who Gypsy met on ChristianSingles.com, actually has multiple personality disorder (whats now called dissociative identity disorder). But its true that he and Gypsy talked about having multiple identities when they chatted online and through texts on a secret phone Gypsy had. Their conversations were revealed in court (Gypsy is currently serving ten years for second degree murder and Godejohn is serving life without parole for first-degree murder), and in later media reports.
\"I thought I was in love with him, the good side of him.\"
Godejohn said his "evil side enjoys killing," and Gypsy told Dr. Phil in 2017 that he had multiple personalities that were violent and scary. He thought he was a 500-year-old vampire named Victor. I thought I was in love with him, the good side of him." Gypsy had an alter ego of sorts too, referring to her sinister side as Ruby during conversations with Godejohn, which were sexual at times.
Of course, for people diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, its not just about having a bad persona or role-playing. While only about 2 percent of the population has a dissociative disorder, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) , these are serious mental illnesses. They typically develop as a response to trauma, like physical, emotional and sexual abuse as a child.
People whove experienced this may learn to separate themselves, or dissociate, from their thoughts and feelings as a coping mechanism. When it comes to dissociative identity disorder, people may switch between the multiple personalities they feel are inside them-ones theyve created as children to manage their PTSD-that can come with different voices, mannerisms and life stories, according to Mayo Clinic .
Psychologists who were brought in to analyze Godejohn during his trial did diagnose him with autism spectrum disorder, according to Buzzfeed , and his defense team said that caused him to have difficulty understanding the difference between fantasy and reality. It was also revealed that he had a potentially traumatic childhood and was socially isolated. Dissociative identity disorder wasnt mentioned though.
In some text conversations, Godejohn talked of suicide and self-harm. He and Gypsy also spoke about their plans for marriage and children. Before Dee Dee was murdered, Godejohn had texted Gypsy that his evil side would need duct tape, and asked if Dee Dee was a light sleeper and if her floor squeaked. These messages were used to argue that the murder was premeditated.
The next episode of The Act on Hulu will be released next Wednesday at 3 a.m. EST.
