DeepSummary
Belle Gibson, an Australian social media influencer, faked having terminal brain cancer to gain a massive online following and launch a successful wellness business. She claimed her healthy diet and alternative therapies were curing her cancer, leading to an app, cookbook, and potential collaboration with Apple. However, it was eventually revealed that Belle never had cancer at all and had been lying for years to scam people and make money.
Gibson's lies began in online forums around 2009, where she claimed to have suffered a stroke, been misdiagnosed with cancer, and undergone failed heart surgeries. She became pregnant during this time and used it to further garner sympathy. In 2013, she launched the 'Whole Pantry' app and amassed hundreds of thousands of followers inspired by her story of beating terminal illness through healthy living. She made false claims about donating profits to charity.
Belle's web of lies unraveled in 2015 when reporters investigated her background and could not substantiate any of her medical claims. She admitted to never having cancer, initially claiming she was misdiagnosed before backtracking. Gibson was fined $410,000 for failing to donate money but has yet to pay. Her fame turned to infamy as people felt betrayed by her lies and dangerous promotion of rejecting traditional cancer treatment.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Belle Gibson was a pathological liar who fabricated an elaborate story about having terminal brain cancer to gain sympathy, launch a successful wellness business, and scam people out of money.
- Gibson claimed her healthy diet and alternative therapies cured her cancer, but she never had cancer at all and was spreading misinformation that could endanger people's lives.
- Despite earning an estimated $500,000 from her fraudulent app, book, and other endeavors, Gibson repeatedly lied about donating profits to charity.
- Even after her lies were exposed, Gibson refused to take accountability, instead blaming fictitious doctors for misleading her or claiming she had a mental disorder.
- Gibson faced a $410,000 fine but has avoided paying most of it, showing little remorse for the widespread betrayal and harm she caused to her many followers.
- The case exposed the importance of fact-checking and doing due diligence, as major companies like Apple and Penguin Publishing gave credibility to Gibson's false claims.
- Stories like Gibson's take advantage of people's compassion and trust, and can be especially devastating by giving false hope to those suffering from terminal illnesses.
- Pathological liars like Gibson seem incapable of admitting the truth even when directly confronted with contradictory evidence.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Excuse me. Sorry. It is heartbreaking for me that he still carries stigma.“ by Belle Gibson
- “I don't accept that because I don't feel that I do. And with Munchausen's, it's a disorder where you create these syndromes and you believe it, and you cause physical pain for that to be believed, and I'm not doing that, and I didn't do that.“ by Belle Gibson
- “He brought in scans, and it showed a brain tumour. But that wasn't my scan, because most recently, I went back to the Alfred and I got my full portfolio from them, and I did get that brain scan, but there is no brain tumor there.“ by Belle Gibson
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Episode Information
True Crime with Kendall Rae
Mile Higher Media & Audioboom Studios
6/6/24
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