It was the story that shocked the world. A young woman claimed to have cured her cancer by changing her diet and adopting a wellness lifestyle, after becoming worn down by chemotherapy and radiation. She amassed millions of followers, many of whom were also cancer sufferers inspired by her story of hope.
But all this turned out to be a sham, after Belle had spun a complex story involving outlandish claims and deception. Belle never had cancer, and nearly everything she’d told her followers was a lie. The wellness empire she’d built around her quickly crumbled, and Belle suffered serious repercussions.
Now, the shocking story is the subject of a new Netflix drama, Apple Cider Vinegar. The six-episode stars Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson and explores topics such as the birth of Instagram and the rise of the wellness industry, to ask the question: how did Belle get away with it?
Naturally, this means lots of people are searching for the real story of Belle Gibson. Who is she? How did she get found out? And where is she now? We’ve broken it down below…
Who is Belle Gibson?
Belle Gibson was an Australian wellness influencer who shot to fame in 2013 when she claimed she had beaten cancer through wellness and lifestyle changes. She grew up in Launceston, Tasmania and moved to Manly, Queensland for school. Later, she relocated to Perth in Western Australia and Melbourne in 2009.
Belle initially told her followers that she had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in 2009 when she was just 20-years-old, and doctors had given her six weeks to live. She alleged that chemotherapy made her sick, and her cancer was cured by a gluten and sugar free diet and a wellness lifestyle. She also claimed to have undergone multiple heart surgeries and that she momentarily died on the operating table. Miraculously, Belle also got pregnant with her first child.
Belle went on to garner millions of followers across her social media platforms, and her career took off. She launched The Whole Pantry app in 2013 and published a book with Penguin of the same name. The app was downloaded 200,000 times within its first month.
In her book, Belle said ‘I was empowering myself to save my own life through nutrition, patience, determination, and love.’
In a post on Instagram in July 2014, Belle went as far as to claim her cancer had returned, writing ‘I have cancer in my blood, spleen, brain, uterus and liver. I am hurting … I wanted to respectfully let you each know, and hand some of the energy over to the greater community, my team and @thewholepantry … Please don’t carry my pain. I’ve got this.’
How was Belle Gibson found out?
Things came crashing down for Belle in March 2015, after an Australian publication revealed that she had been falsely claiming to followers that she was donating a portion of her book and app sales to charity. Some later reports claimed Gibson had gained up to $1 million from the lie.
When pressed for details on her donations, Belle claimed the Indonesia and Cambodian based charities didn’t speak English, but that she would upload documentation to prove her claims 'once I get my shit together.'
Friends also began to question whether Belle was telling the truth. In the ITV documentary Instagram’s Worst Con Artist, one of her closest friends, Chanelle McAuliffe, says she grew suspicious of Belle’s illness when she had ‘a seizure which she then recovered from very quickly when someone suggested calling an ambulance.’
Belle’s admission came in April 2015, when she said in an interview with Australia Women’s Weekly that she did not have cancer. ‘No… None of it’s true,’ she said. ‘I don’t want forgiveness. I just think [speaking out] was the responsible thing to do. Above anything, I would like people to say, ‘Okay, she’s human. She’s obviously had a big life. She’s respectfully come to the table and said what she’s needed to say, and now it’s time for her to grow and heal.’
Backlash against Belle quickly grew, and the repercussions came in thick and fast. In September 2017, she was fined £240,000 by the Australian government for misleading readers about donating money to charity, after she was found guilty of five breaches of consumer law.
A judge at the time said Gibson's dishonest conduct proved ‘her relentless obsession with herself and what best serves her interests.’ She added ‘One of the clear demonstrations of the dishonesty and self-interest attending Ms Gibson's conduct was the fact she and the company she controlled did not in fact make any donations to the organisations she had mentioned in her publicity statements until public questioning of her claims.’
Did Belle Gibson pay her fines?
In 2020, AU news reported that Belle had failed to pay more than $500,000 in penalties and interest, which led to her home being raided by the Victorian Sheriff’s Office. Her home was raided again in 2021, in an attempt to recoup her unpaid fines.
It is unknown whether Belle has paid her fines.
Where is Belle Gibson now?
Belle seems to have kept a low profile since the scandal, although it is thought she is living in Melbourne. In 2020, AU News reported that Belle was seen in a social media video attending an event for Ethiopia's Oromo community in Melbourne while wearing a headscarf and using a different name.
‘My heart is deeply embedded in the Oromo people, I feel blessed to be adopted by you,’ she said.
However, the ITV documentary told how she was rejected by the Oromo people once they discovered her real identity. 'They were shocked to find out who she is, and she ends up being rejected by that community,’ said journalist Richard Guilliatt.
Does Belle Gibson have kids?
Belle Gibson has one son called Oliver, who she gave birth to in 2009.
When does Apple Cider Vinegar air on TV?
Apple Cider Vinegar will air on Netflix in February 2025. You can watch the trailer here.