Series exposes truth behind influencer Belle Gibson’s cancer hoax
Netflix’s limited series Apple Cider Vinegar premiered on 6 February and tells the unbelievable story of Belle Gibson.
Described by Netflix as a “true-ish story based on a lie,” Apple Cider Vinegar follows the rise and fall of Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson.
In the early 2010s, she gained prominence by claiming she healed her terminal brain cancer using a healthy diet and holistic remedies.
The six-part series delves into Gibson’s rise to fame, her deceptive claims, and the subsequent fallout.
It follows her path as her influence grew rapidly as she detailed her alleged battle with cancer on Instagram.
Her story resonated with many, leading to the development of The Whole Pantry app, which offered recipes and wellness advice. The app’s success paved the way for a cookbook of the same name, further cementing her status in the wellness community.
But ALL WAS NOT WHAT IT SEEMED..
However, inconsistencies in Gibson’s story began to surface and it was revealed that she had never been diagnosed with cancer.
Additionally, she had failed to donate proceeds from her app and book sales to charity, as she had publicly promised.
In 2017, an Australian federal court fined Gibson $410 000 (R7.5 million) for misleading consumers.
A CAUTIONARY TALE
Apple Cider Vinegar stars Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart, Ticket to Paradise, The Last of Us) and was written for screen by Australian screenwriter, Samantha Strauss. She drew her inspiration from The Woman Who Fooled The World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson, written by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano.
Gibson did not contribute to the series and will receive no financial gain from it.
Strauss told Time, that she views the show as a public service announcement about fraud within the wellness industry.
She highlights its relevance in light of anti-vaccine sentiments and the spread of fake COVID-19 treatments during the height of the pandemic.
Strauss hopes the series will spark discussions around why some patients lose trust in medical professionals and instead turn to figures like Gibson and unproven alternative therapies.
WHERE IS BELLE GIBSON NOW?
According to Cosmopolitan, Gibson attempted to reinvent herself, integrating into Melbourne’s Oromo community, an ethnic group originally from Ethiopia. She had also adopted a new name, asking to be called “Sabontu.”
Dr Tarekegn Chimdi, head of Melbourne’s Ethiopian community, assumed she was a group member’s girlfriend. However, once reporters informed him of Gibson’s past, he requested that she leave the community.
Since her 2019 trial, her home has reportedly been raided twice in an effort to recover the money she owes.
She is currently not active on any social media platforms.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF BELLE GIBSON’S STORY IN APPLE CIDER VINEGAR?
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