A recently released Netflix documentary series, “Apple Cider Vinegar”, follows the story of Belle Gibson, a real Australian lifestyle influencer in the early 2010s, who faked having multiple types of cancer and claimed that eating healthy (by conveniently following the recipes from a book she published), is what ‘cured her cancers’ – leeching on the support of other chronically ill people.
The documentary follows Belle as she tries to piece together and keep up her lies without getting caught, along with her competitor, Milla Blake (who is based around another Australian wellness influencer and author, Jessica Ainscough) who, in the series, is also treating her cancer with alternative remedies – and isn’t lying about it; she is very ill, and her life quality quickly deteriorates without medical intervention.
More confusingly, Belle also has a partner – Clive Rothwell, who is played by Ashley Zukerman in the Netflix series. Interestingly enough, her partner seems to be funding her lifestyle while also knowing she’s faking her illness – even going as far as to take care of Belle’s child throughout the series. The real-life story is unclear as to whether Clive and Belle were ever romantically involved despite heavy speculations that they were in a relationship.
Kaitlyn Dever plays Belle Gibson extremely well, with social media outlets and lifestyle magazines publishing side-by-side comparisons of real interviews with the real Belle Gibson, compared to Kaitlyn’s performance in “Apple Cider Vinegar”. The similarities are so strong it seems like if you blink twice, you might miss it!
The similarities are so strong it seems like if you blink twice, you might miss it!
When caught by journalists and by a former friend, Chanelle McAuliffe (played by Aisha Dee in the series) – Belle Gibson is forced to admit to her lies, losing her platform; but the damage is already done. Without spoiling, the aftermath of her book release and further press attention is drastic up until the very end of the series.
I went into watching “Apple Cider Vinegar” with no background knowledge of what the series was about – I had never heard of the controversy beforehand. Yet, by the end, I felt all sorts of emotions – I was angry, curious to know what happened after, but also in shock that someone could do such a thing while engaging with a community of other people who aren’t faking their cancer. The key takeaway is simple: be honest! People will catch on eventually if you aren’t, and the bigger the audience, the worse the aftermath will be.
Yet, by the end, I felt all sorts of emotions – I was angry, curious to know what happened after, but also in shock that someone could do such a thing while engaging with a community of other people who aren’t faking their cancer.
