"Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson
02/01/22 • 66 min
14 Listeners
In 2015, Belle Gibson was an Australian "eco-preneur" with a vegetarian cookbook, a blockbuster wellness app and a terminal cancer diagnosis. Today, she's one of the most hated figures in the country.
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Links!
- The Woman Who Fooled The World
- What we know about Belle Gibson
- The mystery of Belle Gibson, who claimed she cured cancer with clean living
- Friends and doctors raise doubts over 'Healing Belle' cancer claims
- Mega-blogger Belle Gibson casts doubt on her own cancer claims
- Melbourne mum Belle Gibson on taking the world by storm with her app The Whole Pantry, while fighting terminal brain cancer
- The Belle Gibson scandal: The rise of lifestyle gurus as micro-celebrities in low-trust societies
- Belle Gibson: "My lifelong struggle with the truth"
- Catalog of Belle’s posts and timeline
- Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con
- Cosmo: An honest account of our experience with Belle Gibson
- Julia Watson's "Breakfast, School Run, Chemo"
In 2015, Belle Gibson was an Australian "eco-preneur" with a vegetarian cookbook, a blockbuster wellness app and a terminal cancer diagnosis. Today, she's one of the most hated figures in the country.
Support us:
Links!
- The Woman Who Fooled The World
- What we know about Belle Gibson
- The mystery of Belle Gibson, who claimed she cured cancer with clean living
- Friends and doctors raise doubts over 'Healing Belle' cancer claims
- Mega-blogger Belle Gibson casts doubt on her own cancer claims
- Melbourne mum Belle Gibson on taking the world by storm with her app The Whole Pantry, while fighting terminal brain cancer
- The Belle Gibson scandal: The rise of lifestyle gurus as micro-celebrities in low-trust societies
- Belle Gibson: "My lifelong struggle with the truth"
- Catalog of Belle’s posts and timeline
- Bad Influencer: The Great Insta Con
- Cosmo: An honest account of our experience with Belle Gibson
- Julia Watson's "Breakfast, School Run, Chemo"
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Maintenance Phase - "Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson
Transcript Summary
In this episode, titled "'Illness Influencer' Belle Gibson," the podcast dives into the shocking story of Belle Gibson, an Australian lifestyle influencer who gained fame on Instagram. Belle claimed to have terminal brain cancer and promoted alternative therapies for her condition, while also receiving money through fundraisers for a child with cancer but not delivering the funds to the family. The episode highlights the harmful consequences her actions had on real cancer patients and their families, and examines the complicity of media institutions like Cosmo and 60 minutes in amplifying her claims without fact-checking. The lack of accountability and systems in place that enable such situations to occur is discussed, emphasizing the need for prevention and holding media institutions responsible. Through a comprehensive examination of Belle Gibson's relentless lying, contradictory medical claims, and questionable character, the episode raises important questions about the dangers of misinformation and the importance of truth-seeking in the media. Despite the controversy, Belle Gibson's story remains captivating, and this episode offers a compelling exploration of her rise to fame, deceitful actions, and the impact she has had on the public's trust.
Transcript
Mike: What's your tagline, what do you have for us?
Aubrey: We're doing an influencer. Yeah?
Mike: Oh, it's a cancer influencer. Does that help?
Aubrey: Jesus Christ.
Mike: Do you have a cancer zinger ready?
Aubrey: [laughs] Not really.
Mike: [laughs] That you've been saving?
Aubrey: Oh, here we go. Hi, everybody, an
"Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson Top Questions Answered
Belle Gibson's claims of donating proceeds from app downloads to charities, were they true?
No, there are controversies surrounding Belle's claims of donating proceeds from app downloads to charities, as many of the charities were unaware of these fundraising efforts. Journalists discovered that the promised charity money was not handed over to the intended organizations.
Did Belle Gibson receive a diagnosis of terminal cancer?
Yes, Belle Gibson received a diagnosis of terminal cancer and moved to Melbourne for specialist treatment. However, she later pulled herself out of cancer treatment against medical advice and focused on alternative therapies and a self-designed nutrition plan.
What is Gerson Therapy and did Belle Gibson practice it?
Gerson Therapy is an illegal cancer treatment in the United States that involves strict vegetarianism, a specific fruit and vegetable diet, and frequent juice consumption. Belle Gibson claimed to practice Gerson Therapy and blamed vaccines for her cancer.
Why did Belle Gibson's book and app receive positive response?
Belle Gibson's book, "The Whole Pantry," featured recipes and her essay about her journey with cancer and commitment to a clean lifestyle. Her app, with 50 recipes, garnered fame by promoting healthy living, and she became known as an "ecopreneur."
Did Belle Gibson heal herself with whole foods?
Belle Gibson claimed to have healed herself with whole foods after traditional treatment failed. However, there is no evidence to support her claims, and she appeared healthy despite her brain cancer diagnosis.
Was there any proof or evidence of Belle Gibson's cancer diagnosis?
Belle Gibson could not provide any evidence of her cancer diagnosis when asked. She mentioned that Dr. Phil gave her the diagnosis, but her claims were inconsistent, and she displayed compulsive or pathological lying behavior.
What controversies surrounded Belle Gibson's claims of donating proceeds to charities?
Many charities were unaware of Belle Gibson's fundraising efforts, and there were doubts about the donations promised through app downloads. The promised charity money was not handed over to the intended organizations, leading to controversies.
What happened to Belle Gibson's app and book after her fraudulent claims were exposed?
After her fraudulent claims were exposed, Belle Gibson's app associated with promoting wellness and cancer treatment was removed from the App Store. Her book, "The Whole Pantry," was pulped in 2015, and many articles and information about her were pulled from the internet.
Did Belle Gibson's mother criticize her publicly, and what did she say?
Yes, Belle Gibson's mother publicly criticized her, alleging that she was a liar and lacked empathy. However, her statements were inconsistent and questionable.
How did Belle Gibson become known as an influencer?
Belle Gibson gained popularity as an Australian lifestyle influencer in 2013 and 2014. Her Instagram posts reflected the typical style of that time, featuring photos of herself and promoting health-related products and practices.
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