Belle Gibson's rise and fall as one of the most intriguing—yet troubling—figures of the wellness industry is making headlines again, thanks to Netflix's new series, "Apple Cider Vinegar." This six-part drama delves deep not onlyinto Gibson's captivating yet deceitful narrative but also highlights the broader ramifications of her claims on those who sought hope through her purported healing story.
Gibson, who claimed to have cured her terminal brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies, captured the attention of the online world when she first appeared on social media around 2009. She quickly became prominent on platforms like Instagram, leveraging her supposed battle with cancer to cultivate legions of followers who admired her healthy lifestyle choices. With her first public claims about suffering from malignant brain cancer and the dire prognosis of only four months to live, the captivating narrative quickly transformed her from just another influencer to one of the most notorious figures of the wellness movement.
Building upon her popularity, Gibson launched The Whole Pantry app, which offered healthy recipes and wellness tips. The app garnered massive success, leading to marked financial gains—by 2015, it had reportedly been downloaded over 300,000 times. Gibson parlayed this success, garnering accolades, including Cosmopolitan's 2014 Fun Fearless Female Award. With her cookbook of the same name, she became idolized by many who believed her life-saving story.
But cracks began to show when Gibson's claims about philanthropic efforts to donate app profits to cancer charities unraveled. Reports from journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano showcased discrepancies in her charitablegiving, raising questions about the validity of her entire narrative. The investigation revealed less than $10,000 had been donated from the earnings of around $420,000, with only one of the organizations—One Girl—receiving any money at all. The rest seemingly went unfulfilled, leaving many to feel betrayed.
Gibson's downfall escalated dramatically by mid-2015 when she was confronted by media inquiries about her life. By April 2015, she admitted publicly, "None of it [was] true," declaring she had never experienced cancer—contradicting her earlier proclamations. This turning point shone light on the darker side of the wellness industry, with many advocates and followers expressing anger over her deception. The repercussions were swift; she faced legal action from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for making misleading claims. The Federal Court of Australia later found her guilty of deceptive conduct and issued fines totaling AU$410,000.
Yet, the story didn't just end there. Even after the courts found her misguiding the public, it was revealed she had yet to pay any of the imposed fines, which had since ballooned due to interest and penalties. Authorities attempted to seize assets from her home to recover these amounts—two raids reported as having taken place starting from January 2020 up through May 2021.
While many viewed Gibson as a con artist, there lay complexity beneath her facade. Series creator Samantha Strauss captured this nuance, stating, "This story just couldn’t exist without showing someone like Lucy — she is the real-world consequences." This thoughtful perspective incites viewers to think about others who might have been influenced by Gibson's narrative. While Gibson basked somewhat safely behind her picket fence, those she misled endured real-world repercussions concerning their health.
After her legal troubles, Gibson controversially attempted to reinvent herself by purportedly taking on the new identity of "Sabontu," claiming to have been adopted by the Ethiopian Oromo community of Melbourne. This bizarre twist, presented with the gravitas of someone who had gone through significant hardship, served only to intensify scrutiny. Members of the community quickly distanced themselves upon learning about her past.
"Apple Cider Vinegar," now streaming on Netflix, serves as both cautionary tale and character exploration, inviting viewers to interrogate the allure of alternative healing methodologies, especially those propagated via social media. It also spotlights the responsibilities influencers carry—the delicate balance between inspiration and deceit. Kaitlyn Dever stars as Gibson, bringing her story and the bigger questions surrounding the wellness industry back to mainstream conversation.
While the series is entertaining, it also begs the question of how far someone might go for acceptance and the resulting harm such deception can inflict on others. With Gibson's false narrative still echoing through conversations about trust and vulnerability, this dramatization adds another layer of intrigue to her infamous legacy. Will it serve as entertainment or wake-up call? Only time will tell.