Explore the rise and fall of Belle Gibson, the Australian influencer who fabricated a story of terminal brain cancer and built a multi-million dollar empire on lies. Netflix's new series 'Apple Cider Vinegar' delves into her deception, the impact it had on others, and the cultural context surrounding her story.
When Belle Gibson was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2009, she opted against conventional medical treatment. Instead, the young Australian woman claimed to have cured her cancer through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Driven to share her journey, Belle launched a blog and Instagram account, @healing_belle, before creating an app called The Whole Pantry at age 21 in 2013.
She quickly amassed a loyal following, with the app reportedly downloaded 200,000 times within its first month of release. However, her entire story was a fabrication.Before the truth was revealed, Belle's app was awarded Apple's Best Food and Drink App that year, and she secured a book deal, releasing a cookbook of the same name. By 2015, estimates suggested The Whole Pantry app and cookbook had generated sales of $1 million. In her book, Belle wrote about her approach to treating cancer: 'I was empowering myself to save my own life through nutrition, patience, determination, and love.' While her narrative seemed miraculous, it was entirely untrue. Years after the deception unraveled, Belle's web of lies serves as the foundation for the new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, in which she is portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever. Created by Samantha Strauss, a writer on Nine Perfect Strangers, the six-part series draws inspiration from the 2017 book The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. The show 'serves as a cultural interrogation of the times, exploring the birth of Instagram, the allure and rise of wellness culture, peak “girl boss” start-up culture, and the age of innocence on social media when very few checks and balances were in place.' As her public profile soared, Belle announced in July 2014 that her cancer had spread to her 'blood, spleen, brain, uterus and liver.' Less than a year later, amidst accusations that she hadn't donated a single cent to charities despite pledging her profits for various causes, the truth emerged: she was a complete fraud. Confusingly, Belle chose to subject herself to interviews, including on 60 Minutes, where she stated the fallout 'wasn't easy for me.' She accepted $75,000 for that interview. Speaking to the Australian Women's Weekly, she confessed her lies, confirming: 'None of it is true.' Her own family denounced Belle, with her mother Natalie Dal-Ballo telling The Weekly that she 'plucked bits and pieces of other people’s medical problems and assumed them as her own.' ‘She’s just a girl who always had ideas above her station. Her tastes just became more and more expensive,’ she added. Meanwhile, her brother Nick said she ‘craved attention.’ Belle's actions led to widespread public outrage, particularly in Australia. Her app was removed from Apple, and her book was pulled from shelves. Although it remains unclear if any cancer patients suffered harm by following Belle's advice, several have spoken over the years about postponing treatment after discovering her online presence and following her guidance. In 2017, she faced charges for breaking Australian consumer law. Although her publisher, Penguin Australia, agreed to pay $30,000 (£15,000) for not fact-checking the cookbook before its release, Belle's claims were deemed 'misleading and deceptive.' In the Federal Court, she was fined $410,000 (£205,000) for her actions. The judge delivered a scathing rebuke, stating: 'Once again, it appears she has put her own interests before those of anyone else. If there is one theme or pattern which emerges through her conduct, it is her relentless obsession with herself and what best serves her interests.' However, two years later, she was brought back to court for failing to pay any of the fine, claiming bankruptcy despite being seen in several designer items. The last known sighting of Belle was in 2020, when she appeared in a video claiming to be an adopted member of Melbourne's Oromo community from Ethiopia and wanted to be called Sabontu. After her true identity was revealed, the head of Melbourne's Ethiopian community stated she was 'exploiting the good hearts of people.
Health Belle Gibson True Crime Cancer Deception Wellness Culture Influencer Netflix Apple Cider Vinegar
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