Kaitlyn Dever plays Belle Gibson in Netflix’s new miniseries, Apple Cider Vinegar (Image: Getty)
A doctor has expressed his anger after viewing Netflix’s new six-part series, Apple Cider Vinegar.
The show stars in the lead role and tells the tale of ex-wellness influencer , who falsely claimed to have cured a Stage 4 brain tumour through a healthy and lifestyle.
The Australian mogul gained a large following and created a successful app called The Whole Pantry, along with a cookbook detailing her supposed struggles and recipes. She was praised globally for her approach and even claimed to have donated substantial amounts of her earnings and company profits to various charities.
However, it was later revealed that she had never had cancer in the first place and her claims were false. Journalists exposed the truth in 2015 – Belle’s empire was built on deceit.
She was convicted of misleading the public into believing natural remedies could cure terminal cancer by the Federal Court of Australia in 2017. new series, based on the true crime book, The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, tells the story of Belle’s rise and fall.
It also details stories of cancer patients who were inspired by her claims, as well as another wellness influencer – inspired by the real story of – who tragically believed her own cancer could be cured through diet and alternative medicine, with a tragic outcome.
Each episode of the series begins with a different character breaking the fourth wall to tell viewers Belle Gibson was not compensated for the retelling of her story. Some characters’ names were altered, and others were invented for artistic reasons.
After watching the show, a doctor took to to express his views, and he didn’t mince words. Dr Michael, who has nearly 500K followers and prides himself on “debunking bad medical advice”, said: “If this [show] doesn’t make you realise the wellness industry is a complete scam, then nothing will convince you. And, oh my god, this was so triggering to watch as a medical professional.
“I used to work in a cancer hospital myself and I regularly do palliative care on patients with cancer in the hospital I work in, and this made me so angry and so sad at the same time because, ultimately, it’s up to doctors and nurses to deal with this stuff once the s*** hits the fan – and it usually does.”
He warned “don’t be fooled by anybody” and noted the financial value of the wellness industry. The the industry has reached “a new peak of $6.3 trillion and is forecast to hit $9 trillion by 2028”.
Dr Michael stressed “food is not medicine” and expressed his concern about individuals like Belle who, he believes, exploit an extremely vulnerable audience. He pointed out many cancer patients are “so desperate to look for anything” that might extend their lives.
Dr Michael stated: “If there was a natural method to cure cancer, Big Pharma would be all over it already, hate to tell you.”
He explained the dangers of following advice from “someone like this” – in Belle’s case, a convicted fraudster – as it often leads to delays in medical treatment and intervention, sometimes “by just a few months”, which can have devastating consequences. He said: “I’ve seen people refuse conventional treatment for six months, and then come back when the alternative stuff hasn’t worked and by that time, it’s spread into the lymph nodes, it’s spread into lungs, it’s spread into the liver, it’s spread to the brain, and we literally cannot do anything.”
He added: “I’m not saying, ‘don’t use alternative treatments on top of conventional medicine’, I’ve always said that wellness influencers online are purely there to make money.”
He warned against falling for potential products a wellness influencer may try to sell – such as supplements, a book, and more.
If you suspect you have cancer symptoms, you should see a GP as soon as you can. More information about the symptoms of cancer can be found on the .