Netflix has a limited series that tells the true story of Australian fraudster Belle Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever). Apple Cider Vinegar charts the so-called health guru’s rise to social media stardom.
She amassed a large following after asserting that she had cured her own brain tumour through natural remedies and nutrition. The online influencer built a wellness empire based on these claims and established an app named The Whole Pantry, accompanied by a cookbook.
Gibson’s downfall occurred in 2015 when journalists probed into her charity donations. Throughout her career, the blogger ran campaigns purporting to raise funds for charities.
She even informed followers that a portion of her company’s profits were being donated to significant causes. However, the investigators discovered that she had not contributed any money to the charities she professed to support.
As scrutiny intensified around the Instagram celebrity, it was subsequently revealed that she had also fabricated her cancer diagnosis. Gibson was later taken to court and fined $410,000, with the Australian Federal Court convicting her of five counts of consumer law violation, reports the Mirror.
As audiences gear up to watch the upcoming series, here’s what transpired with Gibson post-exposé.
Where is Belle Gibson now?
In 2019, Gibson was interrogated by the courts about spending $90,000 between 2017 and 2019, despite asserting she was unable to pay her fines.
ABC reported that the then 27 year old countered the allegations in the Federal Court in Melbourne, saying: “I don’t believe your figure is correct.”
It’s still not known whether Gibson has settled her court-mandated fines. News.com.au claimed in February 2024 she hadn’t paid the $140,000 fine.
Gibson’s current love life remains a mystery. She was rumoured to be romantically connected to Clive Rothwell, who is portrayed in the series as a fatherly figure to her son Oliver, though they have never confirmed an intimate relationship, with Gibson labelling Rothwell merely a friend.
Yet, ABC noted he had previously covered her utility and legal costs.
Has The Whole Pantry app survived the controversy?
Almost a decade has passed since Gibson’s health app vanished from app stores. The Whole Pantry was a hit, with 300,000 downloads at $3.79 per user, until the fraudster was unmasked.
It was such a hit that Apple planned to feature it pre-installed on the Apple Watch. But as the influencer’s fabrications came to light, Apple scrapped the app from their store ahead of the watch’s debut.
The corresponding recipe book was due to launch in the UK a month post-scandal, yet publisher Penguin halted its release.
Apple Cider Vinegar is on Netflix