'Apple Cider Vinegar': 'True-ish' tale of wellness guru's fake cancer
What's the story
A new original series titled Apple Cider Vinegar is set to premiere on Netflix on February 6.
The drama is inspired by the real-life story of Belle Gibson, a wellness influencer who faked curing her brain cancer through a "healthy diet" and "holistic medicine."
The show takes inspiration from the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by Australian journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, which detailed Gibson's deception.
Find out what really went down.
Deception unveiled
Gibson's rise to fame and fall from grace
In the early 2010s, Gibson rose to prominence with a flourishing online health and wellness business, which included a popular mobile app and a cookbook.
She blamed her health issues on a bad reaction to the Gardasil HPV vaccine and claimed her cancer had spread to different organs but was cured by natural remedies.
However, weeks before her 2015 cookbook The Whole Pantry's release, The Age reporters uncovered that her story was built on a web of lies.
Legal fallout
Gibson's deception led to legal consequences
As the truth about Gibson's false claims came to light, it was revealed that the charities she claimed to have raised funds for had never received a cent.
Speculations grew that she might suffer from a form of Munchausen's syndrome.
For context, the syndrome is a mental health condition where a person repeatedly exaggerates symptoms of illness to gain attention, sympathy, or care, often faking their medical history.
Show disclaimer
Netflix's 'Apple Cider Vinegar' is a 'work of fiction'
In 2015, Gibson confessed to Australian Women's Weekly that "none of it is true."
This admission led to her facing over $1 million in fines after a federal court judge ruled she had intentionally misled cancer patients.
Despite the titular character bearing Gibson's name, Netflix has made it clear that Apple Cider Vinegar is a "work of fiction" and a "true-ish story based on a lie."
The streaming giant stressed that the show is not meant to be a biopic.
About the show
Here's more about the show
The recently released trailer offers a glimpse into the true crime thriller that charts the dramatic rise and fall of Gibson, the Australian single mother who built a wellness empire by falsely claiming she had brain cancer and was healing through an all-natural lifestyle.
This six-episode series stars Kaitlyn Dever in the lead role and is created by acclaimed Australian writer Samantha Strauss.
Twitter Post
In case you missed it, watch the trailer here
Two women with life-threatening illnesses look to health & wellness for a cure, sharing all to their global Instagram following. This would be inspiring, if it were at all true.
— Netflix (@netflix) January 14, 2025
Kaitlyn Dever, Alycia Debnam-Carey, and Aisha Dee star in Apple Cider Vinegar. Coming February 6. pic.twitter.com/gwc0hZorAQ