The real story behind Apple Cider Vinegar from Netflix. Who is Belle Gibson?

Apple Cider Vinegar is a Netflix drama series that was inspired by true events. Here's the story behind it.

Edyta Jastrzebska

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Source: Apple Cider Vinegar, Samantha Strauss, Netflix, 2025

Apple Cider Vinegar is an upcoming limited drama series from Netflix that is inspired by the real-life story of wellness guru Belle Gibson, but series is a work of fiction. This year first saw the release of Scamanda, a series about a woman who faked her illness in front of the whole world, and now it's the turn of another similar story, which you'll learn in the series starring Kaitlyn Dever. The series is inspired by a book by two journalists, Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, titled The Woman Who Fooled the World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson.

These were the beginnings of Instagram. Apple Cider Vinegar series takes a look at the story of two women who took on their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, sharing their experiences with their online communities. It would be inspiring if it were true. Netflix presents a true-ish story taken from a lie. A tale of the rise and fall of a wellness empire.

Apple Cider Vinegar will be released on Netflix on February 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM CET.

What is the real story behind Apple Cider Vinegar from Netflix?

Belle Gibson is an Internet personality who has built her career by convincing observers that she has cured a number of health problems, including terminal brain cancer, with the help of a healthy diet, exercise and holistic medicine. Gibson has built her business on this, which includes a health and wellness mobile app and accompanying cookbook The Whole Pantry.

In March 2015, reporters from Australia's The Age, who conducted a journalistic investigation, managed to determine that Gibson had donated an estimated $7,000 Australian to charity, although she claimed to have donated $300,000 Australian from the profits of her app and book. Shortly after, the media began to suggest that Gibson had lied about her illness. Posts about her cancer diagnosis and “treatment” methods then began to disappear from Gibson's social media, and Apple removed The Whole Pantry from its app store.

More than a month later, Belle Gibson gave an interview to The Australian Women's Weekly, during which she admitted to fabricating the cancer story.

None of it’s true. 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.”

In 2017, The Guardian reported, the Federal Court of Australia found Belle guilty of engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct and she was fined $410,000. A Current Affair in February 2024 reported that the fine had not been paid in full. Gibson argued, “I haven't paid things because I can't afford to.”

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Edyta Jastrzebska

Author: Edyta Jastrzebska

A graduate of journalism and social communication as well as cultural studies. She started at Gamepressure.com as one of the newspeople in the films department. Currently she oversees the Gamepressure movie&TV newsroom. She excels in the field of film and television, both in reality-based and fantasy themes. Keeps up with industry trends, but in her free time she prefers to watch less known titles. Has a complicated relationship with popular ones, which is why she only gets convinced about many of them when the hype around them subsides. Loves to spend her evenings not only watching movies, series, reading books and playing video games, but also playing text RPGs, which she has been into for several years.