In the age of influencers, few stories have captivated—and enraged—the public like that of Australian influencer Belle Gibson. Once hailed as an inspirational wellness guru, Gibson built an empire on the claim that she had cured her terminal brain cancer through natural remedies and a clean lifestyle. Her story gained her fame and followers, but behind the carefully curated Instagram posts and bestselling book was a web of deceit that unraveled in spectacular fashion.
Gibson’s story has been told numerous times, most recently dramatized in the new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, starring Kaitlyn Dever as Gibson. The six-part series, which was inspired by the book The Woman Who Fooled The World, written by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, is described by the streaming platform as a “true-ish story, based on a lie.”
Here’s more on the now infamous con woman, who inspired the Netflix series by claiming to have a “malignant brain cancer” for more than five years. She even said she that had been told by doctors she had “six weeks, four months tops” to live.
The rise of a wellness star
Belle Gibson’s story seemed almost too good to be true—because it was. A young Australian woman with a vibrant online presence, she chronicled her supposed battle with cancer, rejecting conventional medicine in favour of whole foods, juicing, and alternative therapies. Her message resonated in an era where distrust of pharmaceuticals and a yearning for natural healing was on the rise.
It all started in 2009 when Gibson claimed that she had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and that she had decided to shun conventional medical treatments. She alleged that instead of undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, she was curing her cancer through a healthy diet and lifestyle. Wanting to share her journey with the world, Gibson launched a blog and Instagram account @healing_belle, which skyrocketed and led to the creation of The Whole Pantry in 2013. The Whole Pantry was a wellness app that promised a healthier way of living and was reportedly downloaded 200,000 times within the first month that it was released. Gibson’s app was even voted Apple’s Best Food and Drink App that year.
Thanks in part to the publicity around the app, Gibson quickly built a loyal following and landed a book deal with Penguin: a cookbook that was combined with her story of miraculous self-healing. In her book, Gibson wrote of her approach to treating her brain cancer: “I was empowering myself to save my own life through nutrition, patience, determination, and love.”
Gibson became the darling of the wellness industry, revered by those seeking hope outside of conventional medicine. By 2015 it was estimated The Whole Pantry app and cookbook had generated sales of over $1 million.
At the time Gibson also claimed that a portion of her earnings from The Whole Pantry would go to charity, further solidifying her image as a selfless and compassionate entrepreneur. Her supporters believed that they were not only investing in their health but also contributing to noble causes. However, these promises, like Gibson’s illness, were an illusion.
The cracks begin to show
Doubt started creeping in when journalists and skeptics began scrutinizing Gibson’s claims. Medical professionals questioned how she had supposedly survived cancer without medical treatment. Gibson had always been vague about her diagnosis, and inconsistencies in her timeline only fueled suspicion.
As her public profile skyrocketed, and suspicion deepened, Gibson announced in July 2014 that her cancer had spread to her “blood, spleen, brain, uterus and liver.”
The real unraveling began in 2015 when an investigation by The Australian newspaper revealed that Gibson had never had cancer at all. She had fabricated her illness and, in doing so, had not only profited immensely but had also misled vulnerable people who were genuinely fighting cancer.
Further revelations uncovered that she had failed to donate the money she had pledged to charities. Organizations that were promised significant funds from The Whole Pantry confirmed they had never received a cent. This betrayal deepened the sense of public outrage.
Somewhat confoundingly Gibson then decided to put herself up to be interviewed, including on 60 Minutes Australia where she sat down with Tara Brown in 2015 and said that the fallout “wasn’t easy for me.” She accepted $75,000 for that interview. Gibson’s interview with 60 Minutes Australia is still available to watch on the TV news programme’s YouTube channel and has now been viewed almost 8 million times. Watch the full 60 Minutes Australia interview here.
Speaking to the Australian Women’s Weekly she confessed her lies, confirming: “None of it is true.”
Her own family spoke out against Gibson, with her mother Natalie Dal-Ballo telling The Weekly that she “plucked bits and pieces of other people’s medical problems and assumed them as her own.”
“She’s just a girl who always had ideas above her station. Her tastes just became more and more expensive,” she added.
The continuing fallout
Public outrage was swift and unforgiving. Gibson was exposed as a fraud, her book was pulled from shelves, and her app was removed from stores. Legal battles ensued, culminating in a 2017 ruling where she was fined AUD $410,000 for misleading and deceptive conduct. To this day, she has not paid the fine and remains unapologetic, even hinting at further conspiracies when questioned about her deception.
Despite numerous attempts by journalists and legal authorities to hold her accountable, Gibson has largely retreated from public life, though she occasionally resurfaces with bizarre claims and defiant statements. Her lack of remorse continues to astound those who followed the case, and she remains a symbol of the perils of unchecked influencer culture.
Investigative journalists and social media watchdogs have continued to track her activities. Some reports suggest that she has attempted to rebrand herself in various ways, occasionally emerging under different names in online wellness communities. While she has not managed to regain her former prominence, her case is a stark warning of the resilience of fraudulent influencers and the need for continued vigilance.
Netflix releases ‘true-ish’ Apple Cider Vinegar
In February 2025, nearly a decade after the tale of deception unravelled, Gibson’s web of lies became the basis of the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, in which she is played by Kaitlyn Dever. Created by Samantha Strauss, the six-part series was inspired by the 2017 book The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano.
The show “serves as a cultural interrogation of the times, exploring the birth of Instagram, the allure and rise of wellness culture, peak ‘girl boss’ start-up culture, and the age of innocence on social media when very few checks and balances were in place.”
Apple Cider Vinegar charts Gibson’s rise to success and her eventual crashing back down by skipping around in time telling the complex story from multiple perspectives. We see a version of events as told by Gibson herself, as she tries to defend herself with the help of expensive PR crisis manager Hek (played by Phoenix Raei). But then we also see versions of true-ish events through the prism of Milla (played by Alycia Debnam-Care), a rival wellness influencer who really does have cancer but who has convinced herself, and by extension her followers, to only pursue unscientific treatments. (The character is fictional, a seeming composite of other high-profile women of Gibson’s era). We also hear from Milla’s friend Chanelle (played by Aisha Dee), who falls into Belle’s orbit but eventually takes her story to the media. (A real woman named Chanelle McAuliffe did so in real life.) Mark Coles Smith plays our heroic strong-jawed journalist, who relentlessly pursues the story while his own partner Lucy (played by Tilda Cobham-Hervey) undergoes cancer treatments of her own — Apple Cider Vinegar uses this as an opportunity to explore the appeal of alternative therapies. Finally, there’s Belle’s long-suffering, willfully ignorant husband Clive (played by Ashley Zukerman).
The Netflix series has received generally favourable reviews since its release and renewed the interest and fascination with Gibson and her actions.
The danger of wellness scams
Gibson’s real-life story is a cautionary tale of the dark side of the wellness industry. It highlights the dangers of unverified health claims, the power of social media in spreading misinformation, and the ethical failings of companies that rush to capitalize on influencer narratives without proper scrutiny.
Her deception also raised concerns about how easy it is for fraudulent health claims to gain traction online. With so many people turning to the internet for medical advice, her story underscores the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based medicine. For every Belle Gibson, there are countless others peddling dangerous misinformation under the guise of wellness.
The scandal also prompted discussions about regulatory changes in the wellness industry. Governments and consumer protection agencies have since strengthened measures to hold wellness influencers accountable, ensuring that false medical claims face stricter scrutiny. However, the rise of new platforms and changing digital landscapes mean that misinformation continues to find new avenues to spread.
While Gibson’s name has faded from headlines, her deception left lasting damage—both to those who followed her advice and to the credibility of genuine health advocates. In a world where social media can turn anyone into an expert overnight, her scandal serves as a stark reminder: not everything that shines in the wellness industry is gold.
As the wellness movement continues to grow, consumers must remain vigilant. The next Belle Gibson may already be building their empire, just waiting for their moment to deceive a new generation of hopeful believers. Understanding the risks, verifying claims, and demanding transparency from influencers and health brands are the only ways to prevent history from repeating itself.
