Warning: this article contains SPOILERS for Apple Cider Vinegar. Netflix’s latest miniseries, Apple Cider Vinegar, is marketed as a “true-ish”account of the life of Belle Gibson, an Australian influencer notorious for her controversial health claims. Although Belle Gibson is a real individual who captured significant media attention in the 2010s, the miniseries incorporates fictionalized elements to safeguard the identities of those involved in her story. The performances of Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson and Alycia Debnam-Carey as fellow influencer Milla Blake have been particularly praised, contributing to the show’s positive reception.
Apple Cider Vinegar creatively portrays the unsettling narrative that shook the wellness community. It features composite characters that enhance the storytelling while maintaining the series’ entertainment value through Gibson’s antics. Following its premiere on February 6, 2025, the show has achieved an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score, which continues to improve as positive reviews roll in. While some fictional details are scattered throughout the series to expedite the narrative, a significant amount of its content is rooted in actual events, often proving that reality can be just as dramatic as fiction.
10 Yes, Belle Gibson Really Did Fake Having Cancer
She Even Claimed To Have Multiple Different Cancers
While many characters in Apple Cider Vinegar are fictional, the central premise—that Belle Gibson faked her cancer diagnosis—is undeniably true. Despite the complexities and contradictions surrounding her narrative, the miniseries successfully highlights pivotal moments in Gibson’s life. She first claimed to have brain cancer in 2009, following prior assertions about severe heart issues and a near-death experience during surgery (via The Australian).
Throughout her life, Gibson avoided naming her medical practitioners or providing concrete proof of her alleged illnesses. The claims escalated following her successful venture with The Whole Pantry. By 2014, she purported that, in addition to a brain tumor, she had been diagnosed with various types of cancer, including kidney, liver, and blood cancers—yet she never confirmed these diagnoses with any medical evidence.
9 Her Friend Chanelle McAuliffe Was The One To Blow The Whistle On Her
She Tried To Report Belle To Multiple People Before Ending Up At The Age
In Apple Cider Vinegar, Chanelle McAuliffe is depicted as the catalyst for exposing Belle Gibson’s deception, which aligns closely with reality. In truth, Chanelle was not Gibson’s manager but a friend who sought to reveal the lies surrounding Gibson’s health claims after figuring them out. Although the series presents a close relationship between Chanelle and Milla, in real life, there are no indications that Chanelle was part of the wellness community aside from her connection to Belle.
In her quest for justice, Chanelle reached out to several journalists, ultimately finding support from Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who had initially dismissed her claims. Even before that, Chanelle tried involving the authorities and contacted a lawyer but received no assistance. Eventually, Donelly and Toscano penned a book titled The Woman Who Fooled the World based on the scandal.
8 The Hirsch Institute Has A Real Counterpart
The Story Presented About It Is Mostly True, Just With A Different Name
The miniseries adeptly sheds light on the darker aspects of the wellness industry, particularly through the fictional representation of the Hirsch Institute. Although this institute is not real, it draws parallels to the actual Gerson Institute, which advocates similar questionable health practices, like juice cleanses and coffee enemas. The Gerson Institute has been under scrutiny due to its regimen, which has historically involved treatments linked to harmful effects, including serious infections.
Notably, Belle Gibson endorsed these unregulated therapies to her followers, exemplifying a troubling trend of influencers promoting potentially dangerous health practices without scientific backing (via The Guardian).
7 Belle Gibson Did Have A Deal With Apple
The Whole Pantry App Was Slated To Be Pre-Installed On The Apple Watch
During her peak in the early 2010s, Belle Gibson’s reach extended to a lucrative partnership with Apple. The series effectively depicts her work on The Whole Pantry app, which launched in 2013 and quickly amassed a significant user base. Notably, Apple was keen on pre-installing this app as a feature on their 2015 Apple Watch, signifying a considerable endorsement for Gibson.
Fortunately for Apple, the truth about Gibson’s fraud emerged before the watch was released, leading the tech giant to sever ties and scrutinize their developer vetting processes. According to reports, Apple had initially been thrilled about collaborating with Gibson, making this a sore point in the aftermath of her exposure (via The Age).
6 Gibson Did Fake Her Age And History
She Was Several Years Younger Than She Claimed To Be
A smaller but still significant deception involves Belle Gibson’s age. Throughout the series, characters question her age, reinforcing the notion that she fabricated this detail as well. In reality, Gibson is three years younger than her claimed age, adding another layer of complexity to her narrative.
This discrepancy means that she relocated to Melbourne at 17 and gave birth at just 18, launching The Whole Pantry when she was only 21 years old. While this certainly speaks to her early accomplishments, the shadow of her dishonesty looms large over her achievements, with her age fabrications illustrating a broader pattern of deceit.
5 She Never Raised Money For Charity
Apple Cider Vinegar Correctly States That This Is What Allowed The Age To Report Her
As the plot of Apple Cider Vinegar unfolds, particular focus is placed on Belle’s dubious claims of fundraising for charity. The narrative drives home the fact that, despite her assertions of collaborating with various charities, she never delivered any actual donations. This harsh truth significantly amplifies her deception.
Upon her exposure, one family whose son had cancer came forward, stating they were unaware of Belle’s fundraising claims tied to their child’s treatment. They suspected her motives were self-serving, as she appeared to manipulate their situation for her benefit (via The Herald Sun).Even though Gibson proclaimed she had donated $300, 000 across various philanthropic ventures, only $7, 000 could be verified, and many of those donations were made post-exposure.
4 Gibson’s Story Raised Massive Questions About Fact Checking In Publishing
People Wondered How She Had Not Been Caught Before
As the series progresses, Belle Gibson’s publisher, named Jules in the show, scrambles to salvage her cookbook after the truth comes to light. This echoes real-life events where The Whole Pantry was ultimately shelved, leading to critical inquiries regarding the lack of fact-checking preceding their collaboration with Gibson.
In response to the fallout, Penguin, Gibson’s publisher, was ordered to pay $30, 000 due to their negligence in not verifying her health claims prior to the book’s production.
3 Her Mother Really Did Give A Scathing Interview Against Her
Gibson’s Mother Said She Was Embarrassed By Her Daughter
When Belle Gibson’s fraudulent narrative unraveled, her mother publicly expressed her mortification regarding her daughter’s actions.>Natalie Dal-Bello disclosed that much of Belle’s alleged upbringing was fabricated, including claims about being responsible for her family while facing hardship. She characterized her daughter’s narrative as complete “rubbish”and expressed her embarrassment over Belle’s actions.
Despite having MS, Dal-Bello maintained that her health did not impede her ability to care for her children, which contradicts Belle’s claims about their household dynamic (via news.com.au).This interview only deepened the gap between mother and daughter, as portrayed in Apple Cider Vinegar.
2 Belle Gibson Did Attend The Funeral Of Another Sick Influencer
Camilla Blake Was Inspired By A Real Person
While Milla Blake is an invented character, she bears a striking resemblance to Jessica Ainscough, a real Australian influencer who faced cancer. The narrative surrounding Milla’s character closely parallels Ainscough’s life, notably their pursuit of alternative medicine and Ainscough’s premature death at age 29. Importantly, the depiction of a rivalry or closeness between Milla and Belle was dramatized for the series; in reality, their interactions likely weren’t that intimate.
Gibson’s attendance at Ainscough’s funeral is chronologically accurate but dramatized, as reports indicate that she drew attention to herself during a vulnerable moment, responding to journalists’ inquiries (via The Sydney Morning Herald).
1 An Australian Court Did Find Gibson Guilty
Apple Cider Vinegar Cuts Off The Ending Of The Statement
The series concludes with a scene where Belle Gibson ambiguously responds to an interviewer regarding the legitimacy of her cancer diagnoses. Following this interview, the screen displays text indicating that Belle Gibson was found guilty of misconduct in 2017. However, this revelation is prematurely cut off, further urging viewers to “Google it”for more details, aligning with the series’ overall tone.
The court concluded that Gibson showed no reasonable basis for believing her own claims regarding cancer and had deceived users of The Whole Pantry app, alongside staff at both Penguin and Apple (via 9 News).The court also noted uncertainties surrounding Gibson’s mental state, questioning whether she could differentiate between truth and her fabricated narrative. While Belle has largely retreated from public view, Apple Cider Vinegar has reignited interest in her astounding tale, revealing the depths of this complex and disturbing saga.
Source: The Australian, The Guardian, The Age, The Herald Sun, news.com.au, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 News
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