Key Points:
- Apple Cider Vinegar is a 2025 Netflix miniseries based on the real-life scam of Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed to have cancer.
- Gibson was exposed in 2015 and later fined nearly $410,000 AUD for misleading charity donation claims.
- Despite the fines, she has avoided payments and has largely stayed out of the public eye.
The Rise and Fall of Belle Gibson
Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar brings to life the shocking true story of Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson, who deceived thousands by falsely claiming she had terminal cancer and curing it through alternative medicine. The series, starring Kaitlyn Dever, captures Gibson’s rise to fame, her lucrative The Whole Pantry brand, and the ultimate unraveling of her elaborate scam. The show is based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano.
Belle Gibson’s False Cancer Claims and the Downfall of The Whole Pantry
Belle Gibson gained prominence in 2013 by launching The Whole Pantry, an app and lifestyle brand promoting wellness and holistic healing. She claimed she was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009 and had rejected conventional treatment, supposedly curing herself through diet and alternative medicine. These claims quickly gained traction, leading to a book deal with Penguin Random House and partnerships with major brands.
However, investigative journalists from The Sydney Morning Herald exposed her deception in 2015. Following the revelations, Penguin Random House ceased printing The Whole Pantry, and her app was pulled from the Apple Store. Shortly after, Gibson admitted in an interview with The Australian Women’s Weekly that she had never had cancer, stating, “No, none of it’s true.” However, she also attempted to shift blame, claiming she had been misled by incorrect medical advice.
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Belle Gibson’s Court Case and $410,000 Fine
After her fraud was exposed, Australian authorities took legal action against Gibson for violating consumer laws. She was found guilty in 2017 of falsely claiming to donate proceeds from her book and app to various charities. The court imposed the following fines:
- $90,000 AUD for falsely stating she donated proceeds from app sales.
- $150,000 AUD for misleading the family of Joshua Schwarz, a terminally ill child, by claiming that revenue from The Whole Pantry would go to them.
- $30,000 AUD for a fraudulent Mother’s Day charity promotion.
- $50,000 AUD for misleading consumers about donation claims tied to her business launch.
In total, she was fined $410,000 AUD (approximately $256,500 USD). The judge prohibited her from making further claims about having cancer or curing it through alternative medicine.
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Belle Gibson Has Evaded Payments and Public Scrutiny
Despite the penalties, Gibson has refused to pay her fines, claiming financial hardship. However, authorities discovered she had spent $91,000 between 2017 and 2019 on clothes and international travel. By 2021, with accumulating penalties and interest, her outstanding debt exceeded $500,000 AUD. The Victorian Sheriff’s Office raided her residence under a seizure and sale warrant, but little has been recovered.
Since her exposure, Gibson has largely avoided public attention. Reports from 2020 indicate that she had integrated herself into Melbourne’s Ethiopian Oromo community under the name Sabontu, though she was asked to leave in 2021 after members discovered her true identity. In 2024, an Australian news outlet found her living in Northern Melbourne, where she continued to evade questions about her unpaid fines and refused to apologize to her victims.
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Apple Cider Vinegar Release Details and Reception
Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar premiered on February 6, 2025, produced by See-Saw Films. The miniseries, directed by Jeffrey Walker and written by Samantha Strauss, features an ensemble cast including Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson and Alycia Debnam-Carey as Milla Blake (a character based on fellow wellness influencer Jessica Ainscough).
The show received an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its dark humor and sharp critique of influencer culture. Apple Cider Vinegar was also compared to Inventing Anna, another Netflix series about fraud, but was noted for its edgier tone and satirical approach.
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