Belle Gibson, Australia’s most notorious wellness influencer, captivated hundreds of thousands with her remarkable story of surviving terminal brain cancer through natural remedies. “Apple Cider Vinegar,” starring Kaitlyn Dever, is poised to become Netflix’s next big hit series, following her dramatic fall from grace.
The Rise And Fall
In 2013, Gibson burst onto social media with an extraordinary claim: she had beaten terminal brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies. Her Instagram following quickly swelled, reaching 300,000 devoted followers. The Whole Pantry, her wellness app and cookbook, became so successful that Apple planned to pre-install it on their Australian Apple Watch launch.
But everything changed in 2015. Investigative journalists Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano uncovered the truth—Gibson had never had cancer. Their groundbreaking investigation revealed more than just health-related lies. Gibson had claimed to donate $300,000 to various charities, including One Girl and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Not a single dollar reached these organizations.
Legal Consequences
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action against Gibson in 2017. The Federal Court found her guilty of five consumer law violations, resulting in a $410,000 fine. Justice Debbie Mortimer’s ruling was scathing: “She has chosen not to explain her conduct; she has chosen not to apologize for it… If there is one pattern that emerges, it is her relentless obsession with herself.”
The Netflix Series
“Apple Cider Vinegar” promises to dig deep into this compelling story. Samantha Strauss has assembled an impressive cast for the six-part series.
- Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson
- Aisha Dee plays Chanelle.
- Alycia Debnam-Carey portrays Milla Blake.
- Tilda Cobham-Hervey plays Lucy.
- Mark Coles Smith as Lucy’s husband
Filmed in Melbourne, the series explores not just Gibson’s deception but the social media culture that enabled her rise. Netflix bills it as a “true-ish story based on a lie,” drawing from Donnelly and Toscano’s book “The Woman Who Fooled the World.”
Current Status
Gibson’s whereabouts remain unclear. Her last public appearance was in 2020, when she emerged in Melbourne’s Ethiopian Oromo community under the name Sabontu. Recent reports suggest she still hasn’t paid her court-ordered fine, which has grown to over $500,000 with interest.
The series, set to release in 2025, arrives at a crucial moment when wellness influencers and social media authenticity face increasing scrutiny. For many, Belle Gibson’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of social media influence and the desperate measures some take to achieve fame.
As Netflix brings this story to global audiences, it raises important questions about truth, accountability, and the responsibility of social media platforms in verifying health claims. The series promises to explore not just Gibson’s deception but the broader cultural forces that allowed her lies to flourish in the first place.
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