Samantha Strauss had never heard of Belle Gibson when Belle Gibson was at the pinnacle of her fame. During the early 2010s, this Australian wellness influencer was writing a blog about her battles with brain cancer, gaining countless followers on Instagram, creating a recipe app based on the supposedly healing diet she claimed had cured her, and eventually securing a book deal.
Years after creating “The End” for Australian television and contributing to “Nine Perfect Strangers,” I found myself immersed in “The Woman Who Fooled the World: The True Story of Fake Wellness Guru Belle Gibson.” This riveting book, penned by investigative journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who initially exposed Gibson as a fraud, forms the foundation for “Apple Cider Vinegar,” the Netflix miniseries I developed. The series follows Kaitlyn Dever’s portrayal of Gibson, along with two characters grappling with real-life cancer diagnoses, as they navigate trust issues in Western medicine, the influence of social media, and the cutthroat dynamics that defined the girlboss era.
Strauss constructed her story with a foundation in truth, yet allowed herself and fellow writers ample liberty to add imaginative elements and enhancements. In essence, she emphasizes that writing isn’t about deceiving but rather crafting fiction, asserting that adaptations require creative freedom.
In this series, Belle serves as the central figure, but there are also Milla, who was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma and became a wellness influencer, and Lucy, a cancer patient who discovers Belle’s posts and finds hope in them. These women, while not the primary focus, hold significant roles to some extent. I chose to structure the narrative around these three women because it was important for me to emphasize the real-life consequences of Belle’s actions rather than simply portraying her as a scammer. By focusing on the people she could have affected so deeply, we can better understand the impact of her deception.
As a movie enthusiast, I envisioned Milla as a unique blend of real-life wellness influencers, yet a character crafted in the creative minds of screenwriters. My intention was to weave a tale that resonates with young women, focusing on a character who embodies an abundance of love that Belle felt she lacked, but also harbored self-criticism and unrealistic expectations. I found intrigue in exploring how this internal struggle intersects with orthorexia; Milla’s storyline revolves around her belief that her cancer diagnosis was a consequence of overindulging in cheeseburgers and tequila shots. This narrative stems from the societal pressure on young women to be clean, pure, perfect, and enough. The competition between these two characters, with Belle deceiving others and Milla deceiving herself, could provide an engaging storyline. Moreover, this dichotomy mirrors the social media landscape that divides us into different groups and ideologies.
The character we developed for the show shares a resemblance with Jessica Ainscough, though we found inspiration from various wellness advocates. The role was collaboratively crafted with Alycia Debnam-Carey, who brings the character to life on screen.
Did I, too, stem from the same origins as Lucy? Indeed, she was a reflection of real-life individuals following Belle, a person battling cancer. Many people I know have faced or are currently facing this challenge in their own lives. For some, exploring alternative medicine paths seemed like the best option. In essence, Lucy emerged from such experiences and convictions.
Was the book your primary source for information about Belle, or did you consult with individuals who know her personally? The authors extensively interviewed numerous people, excluding those close to Belle to maintain objectivity. Reputable journalists have done an excellent job covering Belle’s story, and there is a wealth of material available in the public domain. We also consulted oncologists and professionals within the publishing industry for additional insights. However, we chose not to speculate or diagnose Belle as it seemed overly simplistic.
Why did we make it a point to mention at the start of almost every episode that Belle Gibson was not compensated for her story? To be honest, I had a friend whose partner was deeply affected by Belle’s actions, so I understood their anger and disbelief. However, I didn’t want this series to be seen as glorifying Belle’s behavior. Frankly, it was quite appalling over the course of six episodes. I doubt she’ll ever appear on a reality TV show, and in Australia, she can’t financially benefit from her actions. We felt it was crucial to clarify this point, especially since the format and content of our show revolved around the same themes.
When engaged with the book and conducting your research, what stood out as the most regrettable action among Belle’s numerous mistakes was her partaking in the seizure at the party.
Is it true that she indeed performed that act? Indeed, such an incident transpired during the party, just as depicted. The performance lasted approximately forty minutes.
In the 60 Minutes interview, Belle seems to imply that she may have had cancer without explicitly confirming it. This has left some people questioning whether she genuinely believed she was ill or if she fabricated the story for other reasons. One possible motivation behind such a lie could be the desire for sympathy and validation from others. By presenting oneself as a victim, one can evoke empathy and potentially gain advantages in life, such as kindness from others. In Belle’s case, her mother had health issues, so it is plausible that she observed how people responded to her mother and tried to replicate that response for herself. However, it is essential to remember that we can only speculate about Belle’s motivations and should allow for the possibility of misunderstandings or miscommunications in any given situation.
In the opening installment, the possibility of Belle suffering from Munchausen Syndrome is brought up and she denies it. Considering this fictional portrayal, do you think it’s possible that the real Belle might have had such a condition? I’m hesitant to speculate, as she never showed signs of it and consistently refuted any implications of the sort.
In the fourth episode, Dr. Phill, Belle’s longtime family physician, proposes that she may have liver issues and offers her a device equipped with sensors for treatment. Interestingly enough, one of our producers mentioned they had used this same device to help them quit smoking, demonstrating its multifaceted nature in promoting overall health. This woman is quite astute!
But in real life, there was a Dr. Phill. Belle did pay him a lot of money for the treatment.
The character exhibited an exceptional bedside manner, making him ideal for a doctor in that aspect. However, he’s also a con artist. Despite this, Belle is being taken advantage of by him, yet at the same time, he provides her with what she needs to hear – “You are not a bad person; you deserve to be well.” A regular doctor might not provide her with such comfort. Thus, while he’s deceiving her, he’s also meeting one of her needs.
As a film enthusiast, I’ve got to admit, it was quite nerve-wracking when Kaitlyn, our exceptional actress, decided to belt out Katy Perry’s “Roar” during her book party. It seemed as if she had an uncanny knack for surprising the crowd with her spontaneous performances! Now, I couldn’t help but wonder if that was a creative decision from us writers or if it was Kaitlyn’s idea. Either way, it added a delightful twist to the event.
After attending Milla’s funeral and coming into contact with her cat, I found myself dealing with ringworm. Additionally, there was a flashback shared where I pulled out a massive tapeworm from my mouth. However, the authenticity of these events is something I cannot definitively confirm.
As a passionate cinephile, I’m excited to share that our team created a fascinating plot twist involving a possible case of ringworm for the film. However, we intentionally leave it ambiguous whether the character truly has ringworm or not, inviting viewers to ponder the authenticity of this scene and its implications. Interestingly, Clive, the director, maintains an intriguing silence on the matter, allowing the mystery to unfold organically.
In the closing moments of the final episode, a title card hinted at Belle’s fate post-arrest, only to vanish, leaving viewers with the instruction to search for the details online. This cliffhanger ending may be intended to encourage viewers to engage with additional information beyond the show itself, acknowledging that some details might not have been included in the program.
Essentially, it echoes a predicament with wellness advice – people often make their own interpretations based on what they find online, which can be misleading. This issue is commonly referred to as “doing your own research.
Have you happened to find out what Belle Gibson has been up to lately? I’m not aware, as we last heard from her a few years back. Neither have we had any contact with her since then, neither us reaching out nor her. Our understanding is that Belle thrives in the limelight. However, it seems she hasn’t sought attention recently.
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2025-02-07 23:54