Warning: This article contains spoilers for Apple Cider Vinegar.
Overview of Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar delves into the life of Belle Gibson, a controversial wellness influencer whose empire was built on deceit regarding her health. The show, inspired by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano’s investigative work, The Woman Who Fooled the World, aims to retell Gibson’s troubling narrative, characterized by fraudulent claims of battling cancer. While Kaitlyn Dever portrays Gibson, Alycia Debnam-Carey’s character Milla Blake plays a pivotal role that has garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike.
Milla Blake’s Fictional Role in Apple Cider Vinegar
Who is Milla Blake?
Set against the backdrop of the early 2010s and the burgeoning Instagram landscape, Apple Cider Vinegar scrutinizes the influence of holistic wellness advocates, particularly through the lens of Milla Blake. It’s important to note that while the series strives for authenticity, it readily acknowledges that “some names have been changed and some characters invented.” Milla Blake, despite her integral part in the story and positive reception, is a fictional creation and not based on an actual person within Gibson’s sphere.
Character Overview: Milla Blake
Alycia Debnam-Carey embodies Milla Blake, a wellness blogger who runs greenstonehealing.com. Her character is depicted as an influential figure from whom Belle Gibson allegedly draws inspiration, even mimicking her blog content in public speeches. Milla, believing in the transformative power of holistic therapies, passionately encourages cancer sufferers to explore alternative healing routes.
However, the character of Milla doesn’t mirror a specific individual in Belle Gibson’s life. Instead, she symbolically represents the various holistic influencers whose hopeful messages resonated even when conventional medicine seemed inadequate. The show posits that Gibson adopted Milla’s compelling narrative in a bid to create her own legitimacy.
Milla Blake’s Struggles and Destinies
Health Challenges and Their Consequences
As the series progresses, Milla’s character arc unveils a harrowing reality. Diagnosed in 2009 with pleomorphic sarcoma undifferentiated—a rare and aggressive cancer that manifests as tumors in her arm—Milla faces a life-altering decision. Despite medical recommendations for amputation to halt the disease’s advance, she seeks alternative therapies, doubting the necessity of conventional treatment.
Milla chooses to pursue unconventional healing at the Hirsch Institute in Mexico, a clinic known for its holistic approach to cancer treatment. Convinced that a strict regimen of juices and coffee enemas is curing her, she documents her journey on social media, projecting empowerment and autonomy—factors she believes can inspire others facing similar battles. Her apparent success in the influencer sphere, however, masks the grim truth of her failing health.
The Deeper Meaning Behind Milla Blake
Highlighting the Dangers of Misinformation
Milla Blake’s character serves as a stark reminder of the dangers tied to manipulating narratives around cancer treatment. Unlike Belle, who seeks fame and success, Milla becomes engulfed in the pursuit of what she misconstrues as healing. Her desperate yearning for agency over her illness leads her to embrace pseudoscience, undermining the reality of her condition.
While Belle Gibson exploits Milla’s narrative for personal gain, Milla’s existence within the plot enhances the gravity of Gibson’s fraudulent actions. The series suggests that Milla’s fate—one that is tragically sealed by her reliance on misinformation—contrasts sharply with Belle’s duplicitous nature, serving as an important commentary on the serious implications of dismissing legitimate medical care in favor of alternative remedies.
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