Netflix’s ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ Explores Belle Gibson’s Cancer Scam and the Wellness Industry

The series delves into the rise and fall of influencer Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed to cure cancer, and examines the broader allure of alternative health trends.

Netflix’s limited series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ is based on the true story of Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who fabricated a cancer diagnosis to build her brand.
Gibson falsely claimed she cured terminal brain cancer through diet and wellness, creating a popular app and cookbook before her lies were exposed in 2015.
The series also features a fictional character, Milla Blake, inspired by real-life wellness influencers like Jessica Ainscough, who pursued alternative cancer treatments.
Gibson’s deception highlights the dangers of unverified health claims in the $6 trillion global wellness industry, which often capitalizes on distrust of conventional medicine.
The show, created by Samantha Strauss and based on the book ‘The Woman Who Fooled the World,’ critiques the role of social media in amplifying health misinformation.