Poisoned Apple: Inside Netflix’s Belle Gibson Show
Apple Cider Vinegar is set to be one of the most talked-about streaming series of 2025, telling the captivating story of Belle Gibson, a wellness advocate who found herself at the center of scandal for false claims of charitable donations and cancer. Initially rising to fame in 2013 with the success of her lifestyle app, The Whole Pantry, and subsequent book deal, Belle presented herself as a cancer survivor who treated her illness with diet, exercise, and alternative medicine.
As the layers of deception began to unravel, it was revealed that Belle’s cancer claims were fabricated, leading to a public confession in 2015. Apple Cider Vinegar dives deep into this story of deceit and the consequences that ensued, exploring the rise of wellness culture and the impact of social media on our perception of reality.
Filmed in Melbourne, the series was brought to life by a talented cast, including Kaitlyn Dever as Belle and Alycia Debnam-Carey as a fictional character named Milla. The narrative follows these two women, both influencers in the wellness world, on parallel journeys that ultimately intersect in unexpected ways.
The title, Apple Cider Vinegar, may seem puzzling at first, but creator Samantha Strauss explains that it symbolizes hope in a bottle, much like the idea of a beneficial tonic. Despite its health claims, apple cider vinegar lacks scientific evidence to support its alleged benefits, tying back to the overarching theme of deception and false promises.
As for Belle Gibson herself, her story took a legal turn when she was fined $410,000 for misleading claims about her donations to charity. Police raids on her Melbourne home in 2020 and 2021 aimed to settle the unpaid fines, marking the ongoing repercussions of her actions.
While an official release date for Apple Cider Vinegar has yet to be announced, Netflix has confirmed its arrival in 2025. With a promise of engaging storytelling that delves into complex themes, this series is sure to captivate audiences and spark conversations about the blurry line between truth and fiction in the age of social media.