Fashion Women's Fashion

All Your Questions About Belle Gibson, Answered

Views: 7

Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson shot to fame around 2013 with claims she had survived cancer thanks to healthy eating and natural remedies. By posting regularly to her now-deleted Instagram account, Belle grew a loyal following of devotees, clinging to her advice on how to cure cancer with a nutritional diet. With a follower base peaking around 300,000 Belle also launched a successful mobile app and cookbook, The Whole Pantry. In the space of a few years, Gibson went from an anonymous teenager to the head of a wellness empire. So popular was The Whole Pantry app, that when Apple planned to launch its Apple Watch in Australia, it would come pre-loaded with Belle Gibson’s The Whole Pantry. Unfortunately for Gibson, a month before the launch, her story began to unravel. It turned out, Gibson had never been diagnosed with cancer.

Gibson’s dramatic rise and fall from fame is now set to be documented in an upcoming Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar, starring Booksmart‘s Kaitlyn Dever as Gibson. Here, we look back on the major details of Gibson’s story. 

What Did Belle Gibson Do?

Most of Belle Gibson’s fame (and now infamy) hinges on a lie she told about ‘curing’ a “malignant terminal form of brain cancer” through her diet. Here’s the rundown.

Belle Gibson Cancer Claims

In 2009, Belle Gibson began claiming she had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain cancer and was given four months to live. Despite alleging to have undergone various forms of cancer treatment, she claimed to have been ‘cured’ through healthy eating. The claims surrounding Belle’s cancer were both specific and inconsistent. In July 2014, she claimed on Facebook that the cancer had spread to her blood, spleen, uterus and liver. However, in the preface to her cookbook, which was released in October that same year, she claimed she was “stable for two years now with no growth of the cancer”.

When pressed by friends, experts and media to provide evidence of these claims, Belle was unable to do so. In a 2015 60 Minutes interview, Belle claimed to have been diagnosed by a doctor named ‘Mark Johns’, who tricked her into believing she had a brain tumour by showing her false scans. While she conceded she did not have a tumour, she maintained that until earlier that year, she believed she did.

These were not the first suspicious health claims made by Gibson. In 2009, Belle had also made fraudulent claims she had had a stroke, three heart surgeries and had died twice on the operating table.

Belle Gibson Charity Fraud

Belle Gibson made fundraising claims on behalf of multiple charities throughout her brief career, hosting events and online fundraisers in the name of charities, including One Girl and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Per the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age investigation that first exposed Belle’s fraudulent charitable claims, she had claimed to have given away 25% of her company’s profits, including $300,000 in donations that were never made.

She ran campaigns claiming to fundraise for five charities, but the media investigation also found that none had received any donations from Gibson or her business. Four of these organisations weren’t aware that Gibson had organised fundraisers in their name. 

How Was Belle Gibson Found Out?

Belle Gibson at her home in Melbourne

Belle Gibson. Photo: Nick Blair

Gibson became the subject of media investigations when it became clear she hadn’t donated to charity as promised. In March 2015, journalists Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano published a report in Fairfax newspapers that Gibson had not forwarded thousands of dollars in funds raised in the name of charity. From here, the rest of the story began to unravel, with people starting to realise inconsistencies in her cancer claims.  She later told The Australian Women’s Weekly that “none of it’s true”, when asked if she ever had cancer. 

Further reports claimed Gibson had gained up to $1 million from the lie.

How Much Was Belle Gibson Fined?

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) eventually launched legal action against Gibson and her company in 201, with the Australian Federal Court eventually finding her guilty of violating five counts of consumer law. She was fined $410,000. The debt had later reportedly ballooned to over $500,000, according to ABC News.

Did She Pay That Fine?

People still wonder if Gibson has paid her fine. In June 2019, Belle was asked by the courts about spending nearly $90,000 between 2017 and 2019, including a trip to Bali. In 2020, Gibson’s home was raided by Victoria’s Sherriff’s Office on a warrant dubbed “search and sale”.

The present status of the fine is not known, but in February 2024, News.com.au reported Belle Gibson had not paid her fine.

Where Is Belle Gibson Now?

It is not exactly known where Belle Gibson is at the time of writing. However, the most recent media reports have her living in Melbourne. In 2020, ABC News reported Belle Gibson had been ‘adopted’ by Ethiopia’s Oromo community in Melbourne. She had been going by the name Sabontu. “My heart is deeply embedded in the Oromo people, I feel blessed to be adopted by you,” she said.

Who Is Belle Gibson’s Husband?

It is not known if Belle Gibson is currently in a relationship. It is believed she was previously in a relationship with a man named Clive Rothwell, with whom she shared a house. However, Belle has described him as a friend. According to the ABC, Gibson said Rothwell had helped pay her rent, utilities, and legal fees. He also acted as a ‘step father’ to Belle’s son, The Daily Mail reports.

Does Belle Gibson Have Kids?

Belle Gibson welcomed a son named Oliver in 2009.

Feature image via BBC

The post All Your Questions About Belle Gibson, Answered appeared first on ELLE.

Continue Reading

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ten + two =