Who is the real Belle Gibson? The Australian Women's Weekly

Who is Belle Gibson? Ten years ago, Belle sold the world the story that she had recovered from cancer solely with the help of natural remedies. At the time, The Weekly’s Clair Weaver interviewed both Belle and her parents. And now, on the eve of a Netflix fictionalisation of Belle’s story, Clair reflects on the woman behind the web of lies.

Everyone reckons they know the story of Belle Gibson. Here it is in a sentence: ‘Wellness influencer fakes cancer for money and fame’. That certainly seems to be the premise of the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, which is a fictional drama based on her rise and fall.

Indeed, almost 10 years after the scandal broke, Belle’s false narrative of healing terminal brain cancer with whole foods and alternative therapies is still getting global attention. It’s certainly the story people ask me about the most. But it has also been frustratingly over-simplified.

Don’t get me wrong: What Belle did was 100 per cent wrong. She absolutely deserved to be held to account for her actions.

I spent a significant proportion of my 25-year career in journalism calling out wellness fraud. Not just because it’s futile, often predatory, unethical or a waste of money, but because it can be dangerous, even deadly.

But how is it that a young woman — who showed signs of being a fantasist and was not highly sophisticated — has been so demonised and become such a target of public hatred and ridicule that her name is still synonymous with fraud?

There are other public figures who have perpetuated and encouraged harmful ideas and practices. And yet they have not been held to the same standard nor faced such long-lasting vitriol.

Don’t forget, Belle never would have reached the heights of influence, adoration, and fame that she did without some significant players who gave her powerful platforms without sufficient due diligence. Penguin, Apple, Cosmopolitan magazine and Channel 7, to name but a few.

Because here’s the thing: While it’s easy with the benefit of hindsight to see holes in Belle’s story, I’d remind readers that these businesses had a moral duty to do some background checks before commissioning a cookbook, deciding to preload her app onto an Apple Watch, giving
her an award or putting her on national morning television.

It’s not as if she was super slick. At one point during a Channel 7 interview, host Samantha Armytage presciently remarked: “For a person living with brain cancer, might I add, you look incredibly healthy.”

Meanwhile, Penguin was warned about gaps in her story and admitted it didn’t fact-check her claims before publishing her book.

Yet despite some initial backlash and a fine for the publisher, the blame subsided for the corporates and it was back to business as usual long ago.

For Belle’s friends, allies and employees, it was a different story. They believed in her personally and her mission of healing sickness naturally. They were loyal, supportive and likely blinded by a higher purpose and goodwill. It was only when inconsistencies in her story grew that their suspicions became overwhelming. Only then did they confront her, distance themselves, and speak out.

The betrayal understandably cut deep.

Belle’s online followers were, of course, the biggest victims. Those who were seduced by a pretty, young idol who radiated health despite a deadly diagnosis. Her Instagram feed was peppered with colourful smoothies, healthy plates and messages of emotionally charged sharing, wisdom and gratitude. This was no doubt a compelling alternative to the reality of cancer, chemotherapy, and hospitals. Vulnerable people were conned and harmed.

Since the truth emerged, it’s become clear Belle has lurched from one fake identity to the next. From hard-drinking emo skater girl to wholesome wellness warrior to member of the Ethiopian Oromo community.

So, who is the real Belle Gibson?

Everyone has a right to their opinion and anger over her conduct. However, much has been written and made about Belle by people who never met her.

So what was it like to interview her? In a word: frustrating. Her knowledge of the world wasn’t impressive — but then, she was 23 years old. Belle’s claims about her own medical experiences were unconvincing. Her language around medicine and human biology was incorrect. Even when she spoke of her childhood, it was difficult to know what to believe.

To get a sense of the person you’re interviewing, you want to get under their skin and understand what makes them tick.

I reviewed my transcripts and went over the research material I’d gathered after our first interview in Melbourne, but I realised I didn’t have that. Belle was like Alice in
Wonderland.

So I went back and interviewed her again.

Even then — and after she’d clearly been given advice by a PR consultant — I got the sense she wasn’t sure where the truth ended and the fantasy began.

Richard Guilliatt, the journalist who first discovered that Belle didn’t have brain cancer after interviewing her for The Australian, also found her vague and evasive.

A couple of Belle’s claims that seemed outlandish turned out to be true — such as her leaving home at 12 and having been told by a health practitioner called Phil that she had secondary cancers. But so much was untrue.

It was only when Belle’s mother and stepfather made contact after
The Weekly’s first story that parts of her behaviour made more sense and got context.

Here was a young woman with an unstable past who craved belonging and created her own fantasy world rather than dealing with reality.

What she did was incredibly harmful and manipulative — as well as morally void.

But a decade on, does Belle deserve the opportunity to get help and be rehabilitated? Or should she continue to be the woman that everyone loves to hate?

Apple Cider Vinegar will be available to stream on Netflix from February 6, 2025. Find out everything you need to know about the show here.

This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly. Pick up the latest issue from your local newsagents or subscribe so you never miss an issue!