Decoding “Apple Cider Vinegar”: Truth Behind the Tales
So, Netflix’s “Apple Cider Vinegar” is definitely a must-watch if you’re into true crime sprinkled with a side of social media scandal. Starring Kaitlyn Dever as Belle Gibson, this “true-ish” series pulls inspiration from the real-life con artist who duped everyone with her fake cancer story. Seriously, how did we not catch on sooner? Based on the nonfiction book *The Woman Who Fooled The World* by Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano, the series chronicles Belle’s wild rise and fall, from her viral (but totally bogus) claims of battling cancer to her absurdly popular wellness app, The Whole Pantry, which reportedly raked in over $400,000 at its peak. Talk about influence!
The Netflix portrayal is chillingly accurate, right down to those dramatic “seizures” at her son’s birthday and that eye-catching pink turtleneck she rocked on 60 Minutes. And guess what? Belle wasn’t just faking cancer; she fibbed about donating to real-life families affected by illness. While the primary focus is on Belle, the show also nods to characters like Milla Blake, who seems inspired by the late Jess Ainscough, a young woman who also rejected conventional treatment. Jess tragically passed away from cancer in 2015, and the parallels are striking.
Let’s not forget the behind-the-scenes heroes in her downfall! Characters like Clive Rothwell, who helped Belle with her app, were reportedly based on real people, although with a bit of creative flair. The voice of reason in the series often resembles real-life journalist Chanelle McAuliffe, who bravely went to the media to expose Belle. Meanwhile, the journalist trio—Nick Toscano, Beau Donnelly, and Richard Guilliatt—who delved into Belle’s fraud are expertly interwoven into the narrative. Their dedication to unveiling the truth was nothing short of a real-life investigative drama.
The series also features Tara Brown, the 60 Minutes journalist who interviewed Belle. In a way, “Apple Cider Vinegar” serves as a cautionary tale about the age of misinformation and the consequences of blind faith in social media influencers. So before you hit that follow button, remember that not everything you see is real.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and The Age, The Australian, The Woman Who Fooled The World
