Netflix's new docudrama, "Apple Cider Vinegar," is making waves by diving into the world of scams with a "true-ish" story that's both disturbing and captivating. Released on February 6, 2025, the series explores the story of Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who faked having terminal brain cancer.
Kaitlyn Dever plays Belle Gibson, who gained fame as a blogger focused on cancer and nutrition. The series intertwines Belle's journey with two other characters genuinely battling cancer: M (Alycia Debnam-Carey), who believes she can cure her cancer through holistic methods, and Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey), a breast cancer sufferer seeking alternatives to chemotherapy.
The series is inspired by the book "The Woman Who Fooled The World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson" by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano. It traces Gibson’s claims that she treated her own cancer solely through nutritious meals and alternative medicine, and how she built a successful lifestyle brand around this lie. In 2017, Gibson was convicted of misleading and deceptive conduct and was fined around $322,000 (U.S.). Her cookbook, *The Whole Pantry,* was also pulled from circulation.
The show presents the plot through a non-linear timeline, primarily spanning from 2009 to 2015. Milla is inspired by Jess Ainscough, a teen magazine editor who went viral on social media for recording how she stayed in remission from cancer without traditional treatments. Gibson and Ainscough ran in the same wellness circles but were never friends.
"Apple Cider Vinegar" explores the motivations behind social fraud, such as a troubled upbringing, a thirst for attention, and feelings of alienation. The series also emphasizes the wider effects of Belle's deceptions, showing the real-world consequences on characters like Lucy, who gambled with her health by refusing traditional medical care.
Like other scam-focused dramas such as "Inventing Anna" and "The Dropout," "Apple Cider Vinegar" delves into the darker side of hustle culture. The series includes a disclaimer, calling itself a "true-ish story based on a lie," acknowledging that certain characters and events have been fictionalized.
What other scams are explored in "Apple Cider Vinegar''?
In addition to the central scam of Belle Gibson's false claims of curing cancer through alternative medicine, "Apple Cider Vinegar" also explores the broader wellness industry as a scam. The series critiques pseudoscientific approaches, exemplified by significant screen time devoted to practices like coffee enemas.
The show also touches on how individuals can exploit online support groups by falsely claiming to have serious health conditions, aligning with the concept of Munchausen by Internet.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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