Over a decade ago, Australia was introduced to Annabelle Natalie Gibson. Better known as Belle, the wellness influencer quickly rose to success when she revealed she had been beaten multiple cancers through a healthy diet.
But in 2015, Belle’s health claims were confronted and she admitted they were all false. So where is she now? We do a deep-dive into who Belle Gibson is and where she is now in anticipation of the release of the docudrama Apple Cider Vinegar.
Who is Belle Gibson?
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, Belle Gibson was an Australian wellness influencer and author of The Whole Pantry, an app and later a cookbook featuring plant-based recipes created to nourish and nurture the body, underpinned by Belle’s ‘whole life’ philosophy.
Belle was diagnosed with a number of different cancers including brain, blood, spleen, uterine, liver and kidney, and was given months to live. However after modern medicines were ineffective in her fight, she began “a quest to heal [herself] naturally… through nutrition, patience, determination and love” and claimed this lifestyle shift healed her.
Soon after, Belle launched The Whole Pantry app and it quickly rose in popularity, having been voted Apple’s Best Food and Drink App of 2013. The app focused on healthy eating, wellness and living a wholesome lifestyle. In 2015, it was revealed her cancer diagnosis was fabricated and was used as a ploy to deceit for personal profit.
What did Belle Gibson do?
Belle lied about having multiple different cancers and claimed her self-treatment through diet and living a more holistic lifestyle was instrumental in curing her health issues. The story came to light when it was revealed the money she had raised for multiple charities through her followers had not actually been paid.
What happened to Belle Gibson?
After the fallout from Belle’s lies, The Whole Pantry app was quietly taken off the app store and the cookbook under the same name was pulled from shelves. Her social media accounts were deactivated.
In 2017, she was fined a total of $410,000 by the federal court in Melbourne for her false charity promises. However it is believed she has not paid this fine and her home was raided in an attempt to seize assets in order to recoup the fines. In 2021, it was revealed her case was filed as “abandoned”.
How did Belle Gibson get caught?
In early 2015, Chanelle McAuliffe, a friend of Belle grew suspicious of her supposed cancer and a scam she believed Belle was a part of. She tried to persuade her to come clean but was refused.
After Chanelle got the police, lawyers and journalists involved, The Age broke the story on Belle, revealing fraudulent claims of charitable donations which then uncovered her fake health issues. In April 2015, Belle sat down with The Australian Women’s Weekly where she admitted to the lies.
RELATED: Here are 11 of the best mental health apps to try today
Where is Belle Gibson now?
So where is Belle Gibson now? She’s stayed out of the spotlight since the truth was revealed however a bizarre video emerged in early 2020 that showed Belle in a headscarf and going by the name Sabontu at a Melbourne-based Ethiopian community group meeting.
When asked about her appearance, president Tarekegn Chimdi of the Australian Oromo Community Association rejected that she was part of the group.
There have been no significant media sightings since, however, with the release of the new Netflix docudrama that tells Belle’s story, who knows if she’ll make a comment.
Where to watch Belle Gibson documentary
The docudrama Apple Cider Vinegar is streaming tonight February 6 across Australia exclusively to Netflix. The 6-episode TV mini series stars American actress Kaitlyn Dever (from Booksmart and Last Man Standing) as Belle and Aussie’s Alycia Debnam-Carey (from Fear The Walking Dead and The 100) and Aisha Dee (from The Saddle Club and The Bold Type) as Milla and Chanelle. The story follows two young women as they endeavour to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness.
You can watch it from 4pm in Perth, 5:30pm in Darwin, 6pm in Brisbane, 6:30pm in Adelaide, and 7pm for Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart. If you’re in New Zealand, it will be available to watch from 9pm.
