Who is Belle Gibson? The influencer that inspired Netflix show Apple Cider Vinegar
New series dramatises the real-life story of how the blogger built a career from a non-existent brain tumour
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Belle Gibson gained fortune and millions of social media fans by duping followers into thinking she had managed a terminal cancer diagnosis through nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
The thenâÂÂ21âÂÂyearâÂÂold Australian influencerâÂÂs shocking fraud story has now been dramatised in Apple Cider Vinegar, a new six-part series released on Netflix, released on Thursday (6 February).
In the series, viewers learn how Gibson tricked the world into believing sheâÂÂd cured her terminal brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies.
Gibson claimed she had been given six weeks to live when doctors found a malignant brain tumour in 2009. She said chemotherapy treatment made her sick and she turned to alternative therapies.
The influencer launched The Whole Pantry app in 2013, and published a book with Penguin of the same name, off the back of her claim she had cured her cancer with a gluten and sugar free diet and a wellness lifestyle. The app was downloaded 200,000 times within its first month.
She also claimed she had heart surgery multiple times, briefly died on the operating table and had a stroke. She later told followers her cancer had spread to her blood, spleen, uterus and liver.
Back in April, one of GibsonâÂÂs closest friends, Chanelle McAuliffe, claimed in an interview with ITV she grew suspicious of BelleâÂÂs illness when she had âÂÂa seizure which she then recovered from very quickly when someone suggested calling an ambulanceâÂÂ.
Belle Gibson duped millions of people into thinking she managed terminal cancer with a healthy lifestyle (60 minutes/ 9 News)Meanwhile, investigative journalist Richard Guillatt, whose wife had been diagnosed with cancer, started ringing experts to discuss GibsonâÂÂs illness claims and noticed something was amiss.
âÂÂI realised, if itâÂÂs a scam, itâÂÂs a really big scam,â he told ITV âÂÂShe had hundreds of thousands of followers all around the world.âÂÂ
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Try for freeWhen Guillatt met Gibson for an interview, she claimed her doctor had diagnosed her with brain cancer and then vanished. She told Guillatt she was realising maybe she didnâÂÂt have cancer at all.
In a recording of the meeting shared with the channel Guillatt said: âÂÂChrist almighty, Belle, youâÂÂre kidding, you actually donâÂÂt have cancer? This was just the last thing I expectedâÂÂŚBelle Gibson just recanted on the record. SheâÂÂs basically saying she canâÂÂt back up her cancer claims.âÂÂ
Gibson grew up in Launceston, Tasmania and moved to Manly, Queensland for school. She later relocated to Perth in Western Australia and Melbourne in 2009. A year later, she became a mother at age 18.
In 2013, Gibson launched The Whole Pantry app. Three years later, she was under investigation by Consumer Affairs Victoria for âÂÂmisleading and deceptive conductâ over claims sheâÂÂd donated proceeds to charity. The influencer was fined $410,000 (Aus) (ĂÂŁ214,000) in September 2017.
Belle Gibson claimed to have embarked on âÂÂa quest to heal herself naturallyâ ( BBC/Minnow Films/Brent Parker Jones )Following the fine, Gibson claimed she was $170,000 (Aus) (ĂÂŁ88,200) in debt and had $5,000 (Aus) (ĂÂŁ2,600) to her name. In 2020 and 2021, the SheriffâÂÂs Office of Victoria raided GibsonâÂÂs home to recoup unpaid fines, which due to interest are now over half a million dollars.
After the house raid, a video emerged in which Gibson claimed she was living with an Ethiopian community in Melbourne, which the president of the Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria, Tarekegn Chimdia, later disputed.
âÂÂIt was concerning when someone is using the communityâÂÂs name who is not a member of that community,â he told Daily Mail Australia. âÂÂShe is not involved in any fundraising for us. I have not seen her since that happened.
Gibson is believed to still be living in the Melbourne area. She has remained off of all social media platforms.
âÂÂApple Cider Vinegarâ is out now on Netflix
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Spoilers
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Start watching âFor Eagle Brothersâ on Viki:
[viki-watchnow url=https://www.viki.com/tv/40963c-for-eagle-brothers]
Source (1)
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, the familyâs pillar, and the grief of those left behind.
Previously, Oh Jang Soo was fatally injured in a car accident after failing to notice an oncoming truck while attempting to retrieve a fallen pendant containing a photo of him and his wife Ma Kwang Sook (Uhm Ji Won). Upon hearing the devastating news, Kwang Sook and Jang Sooâs younger brothers rushed to the hospital, only to be met with the news of Jang Soo's passing. Overcome with shock and disbelief, Kwang Sook collapsed.
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In one still, she gently caresses the jar of Jang Kwang Liquorâa liquor named after both her and Jang Sooâlost in bittersweet memories of their time together. With her beloved husband gone just 10 days after their wedding, viewers are left wondering how Kwang Sook will endure this painful trial.
Meanwhile, after Jang Sooâs funeral, his four younger brothersâOh Cheon Soo (Choi Dae Chul), Oh Heung Soo (Kim Dong Wan), Oh Beom Soo (Yoon Bak), and Oh Kang Soo (Lee Seok Ki)âgather to discuss the future of the brewery. Cheon Soo, the second eldest, is determined to protect the family business, but his younger brothers fiercely oppose him. As they come face-to-face with harsh realities, the four must make a final, fateful decisionâone that will determine the destiny of Eagle Brewery.
The next episode of âFor Eagle Brothersâ will air on February 8 at 8 p.m. KST.
Start watching âFor Eagle Brothersâ on Viki:
[viki-watchnow url=https://www.viki.com/tv/40963c-for-eagle-brothers]
Source (1) %23accident) |
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