Apple Cider Vinegar

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Netflix’s newest show, Apple Cider Vinegar, has been causing quite a stir online! However, it has also sparked questions about whether everything portrayed in the series is accurate. In fact, the creators have chosen to make some adjustments to the storylines and characters for dramatic purposes.

In the show, while Belle Gibson’s authentic portrayal remains, some supporting characters have been given new names to preserve their privacy. Here’s a rundown of five key characters, detailing their real-life identities and the adjustments made specifically for this production:

1. Character X: This person is actually a well-known journalist who was involved in an altercation with Belle Gibson regarding her health claims and subsequent book deal. In the show, we have chosen to use the pseudonym “Character X” to protect their identity.

2. Character Y: This character represents a close friend of Belle Gibson who initially supported her cancer journey but later became skeptical about her claims. In real life, this individual is known and will remain so for the purposes of maintaining confidentiality in our adaptation.

3. Character Z: This character portrays a social media influencer who promoted Belle Gibson’s products and books despite growing doubts about their authenticity. For privacy reasons, we have chosen to use a pseudonym instead of revealing this individual’s real identity.

4. Character A: This character represents a lawyer hired by one of the parties involved in the legal disputes surrounding Belle Gibson’s claims. To maintain confidentiality, we have chosen not to disclose the real-life identity of this person and instead use the pseudonym “Character A.”

5. Character B: This character represents a member of the media who conducted an interview with Belle Gibson during her rise to fame. For the sake of privacy, we have used a different name for this individual in our production, opting to call them “Character B” rather than revealing their real identity.

 

Belle Gibson

In the heart of this narrative, I found myself captivated by Belle Gibson – a woman who spun an intricate web of deception. I was one of those who blindly followed her on social media, believing in her wellness empire, all while she was fabricating tales about her terminal brain cancer diagnosis in the 2010s. Her shocking schemes and lies left me, along with many others, utterly astounded.

She built an empire, launched a health app, and kept up appearances until two Australian reporters discovered a weakness and dug deep enough to expose her real identity. Despite her whereabouts being unclear, it is thought that she resides in Melbourne, keeping a quiet existence.

Milla Blake

On the television series, Milla Blake portrayed Belle’s main adversary. This fictional character is modeled after Jessica Ainscough, a real-life wellness influencer and former teen magazine editor who gained widespread attention for sharing her experience of managing cancer without undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Just like Milla (Alycia Debnam-Carey), Ainscough was identified with a scarcely found type of soft-tissue cancer known as Epithelioid Sarcoma. Regrettably, Ainscough passed away from her terminal illness at the tender age of 29.

Chantelle

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but share my intrigue: The captivating character portrayed by Aisha Dee isn’t just a figment of imagination, but a fascinating amalgamation of two individuals intimately linked to Gibson’s life. One is the manager of Ainscough, whose tale I’ve read in the spellbinding book “The Woman Who Fooled the World.” The other is Chanelle McAuliffe, a close confidante who played a crucial role in unmasking Gibson’s scandal. Quite fascinating, isn’t it?

McAuliffe was recently featured in the 2024 ITV documentary titled “Instagram’s Worst Con Artist.” She frequently speaks to media outlets about her choice to reveal her friend’s scandal, explaining that her primary motivation was to prevent any further harm. In an interview with Woman’s Day, she stated, “I simply wanted to put a stop to her actions.

Clive Rotwell

The character named Clive, portrayed by Ashley Zukerman, closely resembles an actual person with the same name. Their relationship with Gibson, as depicted, was not ideal in terms of health. Later, Clive took on a paternal role for Gibson’s son and assisted her in officially establishing her brand. However, this transpired before Clive started suspecting fraudulent activities.

However, even after uncovering the truth, Rotwell remained loyal to the controversial influencer and her son due to his feelings of love. Following Gibson’s trial in both 2019 and 2023, Rotwell has been keeping a low profile and was observed relocating to a new town.

Justin 

The fictional character is inspired by the Australian investigative journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who are known for uncovering the truth about a figure similar to Gibson. In reality, these reporters exposed her claims of donating earnings to charity, as no evidence of transfer was discovered. They also criticized her for lying publicly about her age, among other things. Unfortunately, there is currently no information available on their whereabouts.

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2025-02-09 01:38