Apple Cider Vinegar true story: Here's everything you need to know about Belle Gibson's scam

Apple Cider Vinegar, a new limited series on OTT has left people intrigued. In Apple Cider Vinegar, Kaitlyn Dever portrays Belle Gibson, an Australian health influencer who connives to cure her terminal brain disease in order to build a successful internet business. She spread misinformation on social media, and the premise of the show is based on everything that happens. There has been a lot of discussion since the show's premiere on whether or not it is based on a true story so here is everything you need to know.

Is Apple Cider Vinegar based on a true story?

Journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who covered Gibson's swindle for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, wrote the book The Woman Who Fooled the World, which served as the basis for Netflix's limited series Apple Cider Vinegar.

The story was initially brought to Strauss's attention by Donelly and Toscano's investigative work. Their research concentrated on the people Belle had duped and the long-term effects of her dishonesty. According to Strauss, who spoke to Tudum, their reporting produced an engaging story that explored the emotional failings of Western medicine and the factors that influence people's attraction to wellness culture. "I wouldn't have been as interested in adapting the book for television if it had only been about a cancer scam," she said.

A number of the series' events and characters were either made up or covered for dramatic effect. One such character, Milla, was created as a synthesis of many wellness influencers from that era rather than having a real-life counterpart. The character was created separately, giving the actress Debnam-Carey, who plays Milla, more creative freedom, she told Today.com. This strategy allowed Milla to be shown as a strong character who could take on Belle head-on.

Although Jessica Ainscough, a former teen magazine editor who went viral for discussing her experiences of staying in remission without traditional cancer treatments, served as a loose influence for Milla's persona, the two characters were not directly related. Ainscough didn't actively try to reveal Belle's deceit, in contrast to Milla.

On the other hand, Belle was based on a real person. The scammer and wellness influencer deceived countless followers who trusted her by fabricating a cancer diagnosis and a purported cure.

You can stream Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix.