Apple Cider Vinegar, the new Netflix series based on the true story of Australian fraudster Belle Gibson, has finally landed. Played by Kaitlyn Dever, Belle manipulates her burgeoning online community with false claims of curing her ‘cancer’ through holistic treatments.
She fabricated her cancer narrative to elicit sympathy and support from her followers, and as her web of lies expanded, she launched a mobile app named The Whole Pantry. This app offered recipes and advice for those battling terminal illnesses.
Her adversary, Milla Blake (portrayed by Alycia Debnam-Carey), had a friend, Chanelle (played by Aisha Dee), who began to harbour suspicions about Belle. Upon discovering Belle’s deception, Chanelle, along with several other journalists, made it their mission to expose her publicly.
While Chanelle is not the actual journalist who unmasked Belle, the series provides ample insight from the real-life writers who brought her deceit to light and held her accountable.
Here’s everything you need to know about how Belle Gibson was caught and what ensued. Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano were the actual journalists who exposed Belle Gibson.
Belle Gibson leaving court (Image: BBC)
Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano were the actual journalists who exposed Belle Gibson. They have since penned a book detailing the wellness entrepreneur’s downfall, titled The Woman Who Fooled the World.
Journalists Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly were the first to delve into Belle Gibson’s activities, uncovering in 2015 that the influencer had collected significant funds for charity from her followers but failed to pass on the donations. This revelation cast doubt on the health claims that underpinned her app, The Whole Pantry.
During their investigation, they faced challenges as friends and family were reluctant to speak out. Speaking to The Guardian Australia, Toscano remarked, “Her name was poison. I can’t think of another story I’ve covered that’s been so difficult to get people to speak to me.”
Donelly echoed the sentiment, noting how they were met with silence by “dozens of people” and even “threatened with lawsuits”.
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Chanelle (played by Aisha Dee) in the series (Image: NETFLIX)
Gibson herself declined interviews, but the journalists managed to obtain statements from her grandmother and estranged mother.
Mirroring events depicted in the series, Nick and Beau sent Gibson a list of 21 probing questions about her failure to donate to charities and seeking clarity on her alleged brain cancer diagnosis.
It was Gibson’s response to these inquiries that ultimately led to her downfall. Within minutes of receiving the questions, she began hurriedly contacting charities, pledging money.
Their book details one such instance: “She called the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray. She spoke to its director of fundraising for 15 minutes, apologised for the misunderstanding, and promised to pay them $20,000.
“She transferred $1000 to One Girl, the charity that had been chasing her for its promised donation for more than a year, and then sent a screenshot of the internet banking receipt from her phone to its CEO. She fired off emails to the other charities, too.”
Journalists looked to expose Belle in Apple Cider Vinegar (Image: NETFLIX)
However, when they reached out to her with questions, she responded without providing any specific or basic details.
The journalists noted: “Gibson kept spruiking her charity work, wrote about her sacrifices for others, and her support for those less fortunate. This was odd.
“Usually, when people are caught out like this, and a reporter comes knocking, they say very little. Or they bunker down and say nothing at all.
“Gibson, on the other hand, attempted to explain away the fact that she kept money raised for charity. She said it had something to do with ‘cash flow’ problems.”
The journalists sent Gibson a follow-up email, repeating unanswered questions, but as she continued to evade them, the first article about Belle’s failure to donate to multiple charities was published. She quickly became front-page news, and as more revelations emerged, her cover was finally blown.
The story was covered by Nick, a multi-award-winning journalist based in Melbourne, and Beau, a multi-award-winning journalist who reports on social affairs for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Apple Cider Vinegar is on