Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, brings the shocking true story of Belle Gibson back into the spotlight. Created by Samantha Strauss, the show explores Gibson’s deception, social media’s role in wellness culture, and the dangers of misinformation.
Who Was Belle Gibson?
In the early 2010s, Belle Gibson became one of Instagram’s most influential wellness figures, claiming she had cured her terminal brain cancer through natural remedies and a healthy diet—without chemotherapy. Her story resonated with thousands, leading to a successful app, a bestselling book, and even a partnership with Apple.
However, in 2015, investigative journalists Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly exposed her as a fraud in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. It turned out Gibson never had cancer, had lied about her age, and had not donated money to charities she claimed to support.
Her downfall was swift, with a disastrous 60 Minutes interview further damaging her reputation. Since then, she has remained one of Australia’s most infamous scammers.
What Is Apple Cider Vinegar About?
The series, starring Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, doesn’t just tell her story—it examines the broader wellness industry and how it can exploit people’s trust.
Other key characters include:
- Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey) – A modern influencer promoting questionable health remedies.
- Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) – A cancer patient who turns to alternative treatments, highlighting how misinformation can impact real lives.
According to Samantha Strauss, the show isn’t just about “wellness being bad and medicine being good”—it delves into the appeal of alternative health, particularly the sense of community people don’t always find in traditional medicine.
Apple Cider Vinegar adds to the growing trend of scammer stories, like The Dropout (Theranos) and Inventing Anna (Anna Delvey), showing how social media fuels misinformation.
A disclaimer at the start of the series makes it clear that Belle Gibson did not profit from the show.
Would you be interested in watching it?
