This article contains SPOILERS for Apple Cider Vinegar!
The miniseries <em>Apple Cider Vinegar</em> explores the intriguing yet troubling tale of Australian fraudster Belle Gibson between 2009 and 2015, raising critical questions about her life post-exposure. Netflix has become synonymous with captivating true crime narratives, and Apple Cider Vinegar makes a compelling addition to its impressive lineup. Starring the talented Kaitlyn Dever, this series draws parallels to Netflix?s Inventing Anna, as both depict young women who engaged in deceitful practices to gain personal success at the expense of others.
However, the 2025 miniseries infuses dark humor and a unique edgy tone that has garnered favorable reviews for Apple Cider Vinegar. Notably, this series diverges from traditional storytelling methods; despite its basis in real events, it omits the usual concluding slides that reveal the future outcomes of the characters after Gibson’s downfall. Since 2015, Gibson has faced legal battles, evaded accountability, and has been using a different identity.
Apple Cider Vinegar draws inspiration from the true crime book The Woman Who Fooled The World authored by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano.
Belle Gibson’s Admission of Deceit: The Truth Behind Her Cancer Claims
End of The Whole Pantry: Penguin Random House Ceases Publication
Following her exposure by investigative reporters Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano in The Sydney Morning Herald, Belle Gibson gave an exclusive interview to The Australian Women?s Weekly where she acknowledged her fabrications regarding her cancer claims for the first time. When directly asked about her cancer status, she bluntly stated, ?No, none of it?s true.? However, her statements were riddled with contradictions and an unmistakable tendency to shift blame onto others, leaving readers frustrated.
The most significant takeaway from the Australian Women?s Weekly interview is that Belle Gibson is an unreliable narrator whose claims cannot be trusted.
In the same interview, Gibson asserted that she was diagnosed with cancer in both 2009 and 2014, framing it as an undeniable aspect of her identity, much like her physical characteristics of being tall, blonde, and possessing hazel eyes. However, she failed to provide any concrete or verifiable evidence to support her alleged diagnoses. Clair Weaver, a friend of Gibson’s, revealed that many of her acquaintances reached out to express their concerns about her dishonesty. Throughout the interview, Gibson made numerous exaggerated claims, further reinforcing the idea that she is an unreliable narrator whose words lack credibility.
Massive Fines Imposed: Belle Gibson’s Financial Penalties for Charity Fraud
Ongoing Debt: Belle Gibson’s Financial Obligations to the Australian Government
At the conclusion of the Netflix miniseries, the main character of Apple Cider Vinegar cheekily informs viewers that they can simply Google what transpired thereafter, rather than adhering to the conventional ?what happened next? segment typical of true crime shows. Following her exposure, the Australian government took significant action, leading Belle Gibson into a courtroom in 2017.
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Gibson was summoned to the Australian Federal Court for violating consumer laws by falsely claiming that she would donate proceeds from her book and app, The Whole Pantry. However, none of the charities or supposed beneficiaries had any record of her promised donations. As reported by the Herald Sun, the Australian courts imposed the following fines (in AUD):
- $90,000 for two claims that she donated money to charities from the company and app sales
- $150,000 for deceiving the family of Joshua Schwarz, a nine-year-old child who passed away from a terminal brain tumor, by promising that proceeds from The Whole Pantry would support his family.
- $30,000 for a Mother?s Day promotion where she claimed funds would be allocated to The 2H Project and the Bumi Sehat Foundation
- $50,000 for false assertions regarding charitable donations when launching The Whole Pantry
In total, these fines amounted to $410,000 AUD, roughly equivalent to $256,500 USD. This penalty is significantly less than the potential $1.1 million AUD she could have faced. The judge prohibited her from claiming any brain cancer diagnosis prior to May 24, 2016, and she was barred from asserting that she had cured her cancer by rejecting traditional medical treatments. Surprisingly, the court showed leniency in one major aspect?Belle Gibson was not mandated to issue a public apology.
Despite incurring these fines, Gibson has refused to pay, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, claiming financial hardship. However, the consumer watchdog revealed she spent $91,000 between 2017 and 2019 on personal luxuries such as clothing and trips to destinations like Bali and Africa. In 2021, the Victorian Sheriff?s office executed a raid on her residence under a seizure and sale warrant to recover some of the outstanding fines, which have now exceeded $500,000 AUD due to accruing penalties and interest (via Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Regrettably, as of the release of Apple Cider Vinegar, she has yet to pay any of her dues, according to the Herald Sun.
Belle Gibson?s Disappearance: Life Beyond the Scandal
The Mystery of Belle Gibson’s Current Location
Since the emergence of Belle Gibson’s fraud scandal in 2015, she has largely maintained a low profile. In 2020, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Gibson had become integrated into Melbourne?s Oromo community, adopting the name Sabontu. Despite her involvement since 2016, the community reportedly remained unaware of her true identity until January 2020. However, according to The Australian Women?s Weekly, the community leader requested her to leave in 2021 upon discovering her identity, stating she was ?exploiting the good heart of the people in our community.?
