Netflix’s new series Apple Cider Vinegar dives deepinto the dramatic and cautionary story of Belle Gibson, the Australian wellness influencerwho shook the foundations of the health community with her fabricated cancer narrative.
Starring Kaitlyn Dever as Gibson, the series premieres on February 6, 2024, and explores how Gibson, masquerading as a health guru, built her empire by promoting widely debunked claims of curing terminal cancer through clean eating and alternative remedies. What initially garnered her acclaim soon turned to scandal when she was exposed for never having been ill, prompting questions about the allure and dangers of the wellness influencer industry.
Alycia Debnam-Carey and Aisha Dee play supporting roles as fellow influencers, providing complementary perspectives. Debnam-Carey portrays Milla Blake, who, unlike Gibson, does have cancer and begins to explore holistic healing, leading her to cross paths with Gibson. Dee's character, Chanelle, grows increasingly wary of Gibson's falsehoods, eventually positioning herself as the voice of reason as the narrative unravels.
During an interview with Harper’s BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand, Dever, discussing her preparation for the role, noted, "I sort of went on a Belle Gibson deep-dive on the internet... I couldn’t put it down—the story is so heartbreaking and appalling, and it was really gripping.”
Dever, who had personal ties to the subject matter—losing her mother to breast cancer not long before production—expressed the weight of the character she embodies. "She was, at the end of the day, just really craving community, and really craving love. I think it was just something small...that snowballed," she reflected, hinting at both Gibson’s motivations and the tragic consequences of her actions.
With the rise of social media, both the cast and creator Samantha Strauss recognize parallels between Gibson's narrative and the contemporary wellness industry. Dee, who plays Chanelle, reflects, "Looking at the way social media has evolved...there are so many potential Belle Gibsons out there right now, grifting and saying they’ve cured their [health issues] with this like, pill orwhatever— they’re all around!”
But the series doesn't merely serve as a critique; it raises questions about the appeal of wellness culture, whether grounded or impractical. Debnam-Carey, who visually echoes early wellness figures, notes how the lack of online checks and balances at the time contributed to the fervent grassroots movement: "Back then, there were no guard rails... but now it’s all about business and brand partnerships."
The complexity of the narrative allows the audience to see not just the harm caused by Gibson’s deceit, but the entwined narratives of hope and desperation found within the wider wellness community. A character asserted, "Drink a little bit of this stuff, you’re all cleansed, pure again. I mean, how hopeful isthat?”
The show also navigates the fine lines separating genuine care and harmful misinformation. Dever urges viewers to empathize with those caught between conflicting health narratives: "[The series] discusses the immense confusion between the wellness world and medical world...There’s no right answer, but I hopepeople can have empathy for those who really don’t know.”
Focusing on individual experiences and choices, Apple Cider Vinegar reflects on the collective reckoning currently gripping fans of wellness. By presenting Gibson not just as the villain, but as someone shaped by loneliness and craving acceptance, the show hopes to provoke thought about social media’s role within this crisis.
With its combination of drama, character exploration, and social critique, Apple Cider Vinegar is not simply about Gibson—it’s about the very fabric of wayward wellness culture and the consequences faced by so many yearning for connection and healing.