The Netflix limited series Apple Cider Vinegar is based on the true story of Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who falsely claimed to have cured her terminal brain cancer using natural remedies, diet, and alternative medicine. The series dramatizes her rise and fall, drawing from the 2017 book The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, who exposed Gibson's fraudulent claims. Belle Gibson was convicted in 2017 for misleading and deceptive conduct and fined heavily for her false claims. The show also introduces a fictional character, Milla Blake, loosely based on Jessica Ainscough, another wellness influencer who promoted alternative cancer treatments but had a real illness
. Regarding apple cider vinegar itself, it is a vinegar made from fermented apple cider, historically used as a food ingredient and health remedy. Its production dates back to ancient Persia and was popularized in Europe and America over centuries. It was once consumed as an affordable alcoholic beverage before its health benefits became widely recognized
. In summary, Apple Cider Vinegar the series is based on the real-life story of Belle Gibson, a wellness scammer, rather than the vinegar product itself. The title metaphorically references the wellness and health claims associated with apple cider vinegar.
