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"What REALLY Happened When I Confronted Belle Gibson"

Feb 19, 2025

Chanelle McAuliffe, a close friend of Belle Gibson, reveals the shocking truth behind Gibson's cancer claims and her rise as a wellness influencer. She discusses the emotional turmoil of confronting Belle, the ethical dilemmas of whistleblowing, and the impact on vulnerable communities. Chanelle shares insights about the Netflix series 'Apple Cider Vinegar,' addressing both its accuracy and its dramatizations. With a mix of anger and empathy for Belle, Chanelle reflects on the complexities of deception, redemption, and her own transformative journey into advocacy.

51:51

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Episode guests

Chanelle McAuliffe

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Quick takeaways

Chanel McAuliffe confronted Belle Gibson about her deceptive cancer claims, highlighting the challenges of whistleblowing against a widely celebrated influencer.

The repercussions of Belle's misinformation profoundly affected vulnerable individuals, showcasing the ethical dangers of promoting false health narratives.

Deep dives

The Rise of Belle Gibson

Belle Gibson gained immense popularity and success as a wellness influencer with her app, The Whole Pantry, which featured health-focused recipes. By 2015, she was celebrated in major magazines and had surpassed one million in sales, largely due to her claims of overcoming a terminal cancer diagnosis through natural remedies. Her appealing narrative of triumph resonated with a large audience, promoting a message of empowerment through wellness. However, beneath this facade, the truth was far darker, as friends began to realize her story was fabricated.

Intro

3min

The Rise and Fall of Belle Gibson

11min

Unraveling Deception: The Belle Gibson Controversy

23min

Unraveling Belle Gibson's Deception

4min

Reinventing Through Controversy

2min

The Whistleblower's Dilemma

3min

Transformative Journey: From Whistleblowing to Indigenous Advocacy

2min

Reflections on Complexity and Redemption

3min

In 2015, Australian con woman Belle Gibson was living the dream. Her app The Whole Pantry was hugely popular and she was about to launch a book of the same name.

With hundreds of thousands of followers online, Belle had become a celebrated wellness influencer who'd overcome terminal cancer and had cured herself with healthy eating and holistic therapies. But it was all a lie.

The truth came to light when her friend, Chanelle McAuliffe, noticed gaps in Belle's story. The moment she exposed her deception is now the focus of the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar.

Today, Chanelle tells us what the show got right and wrong, the challenges she faced as a whistleblower, and how she feels about Belle and her crimes now, a decade on.

Find more episodes of True Crime Conversations here.

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CREDITS

Guest: Chanelle McAuliffe

Host: Gemma Bath

Producer: Tahli Blackman

Audio Producer: Jacob Round

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