Apple Cider Vinegar has had people talking on Netflix for its deep exposition of Belle Gibson’s lies. From Kaitlyn Dever taking the stage, the series exposes what became one of the most lauded fraudulent wellness scams of modern times. The story is gripping, taking fans through Belle’s infamous rise, her claims, and the chaotic downfall that happens when the truth unfolds.
But what viewers are most anxious about is how it all ends. Do we see Belle serving her time for the crimes she committed? What about the victims? Let us dissect the jaw-dropping finale and the consequences of Belle Gibson’s lies.
How Does Belle Gibson’s Story End?
The last episode of the series, Tapeworm, climaxes with Belle’s interview on 60 Minutes Australia. In reality, this interview happened in 2018, three years after the blows to her fraudulent cancer claims. During this encounter Journalist, Tara Brown tries to get straight answers from Belle. She meets as much resistance as has ever been seen as Belle just deflects questions.
One of her most grotesque acts has to be when she asks for $75,000 in fees just to agree to be interviewed. There is astonishing disbelief that someone can continue denying facts so openly and still intend to get something out of this.
The aftermath is even more disturbing. Rather than feeling regret or suffering drastic consequences, Belle is seen poolside with her son and husband, Clive Rothwell (Ashley Zukerman), basking in what seems to be a rich lifestyle. This imagery conveys an infuriating truth – while her deceit unraveled, she still managed to escape the devastating consequences that would have fallen upon her.
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Did Belle Gibson Ever Go to Jail?
To answer this question, the show employs a more self-auditory attempt with a meta-take. A title card begins to showcase the legal consequences – “In 2017, the Federal Court of Australia found Belle Gibson guilty of misleading and…,” – when Kaitlyn Dever’s Belle of the Show instantly cuts the scene. She looks straight to the camera and slyly comments, “You know what? You can Google it.”
The real answer? No, Belle Gibson never went to jail.
She was never charged with a crime even after being fined $500,000 for misleading conduct. In 2021, Australian officials searched her residence to claim unpaid fines, but at that point, she had already wasted $90,000 on travel, cosmetic procedures, and designer items. The absence of legal consequences utterly infuriates people who are questioning, “How could the system let someone who abused cancer patients like Gibson walk free?”
What Happens to Clive and Belle?
Clive Rothwell, Belle’s longtime partner, seems to be blindly committed to her and generally oblivious concerning the level of deception he is subjected to. But when the cracks in Belle’s story begin to seep through, Clive begins questioning everything.
One of the powerful reveals of their relationship is when Belle pretends to have a seizure during her child’s birthday party. The event throws their child into a panic while Clive is deeply disturbed. He furiously insists on taking Belle to the hospital but she refuses to get out of the car which is where we see his growing understanding that Belle’s story borders on fabricated.
Clive is still limping for Belle. At least in the fictionalized version. He then proceeds to sit with his son in the LA home, implying he is getting tangled aggressively in the conflicting emotions the mother has brought him into. He is bound into the web of loyalty and treachery that is Belle’s life.
Real Life: Reports in 2023 from Daily Mail Australia confirmed that Clive Rothwell moved out of the home he shared with Belle. He has been spotted with another new partner indicating that their relationship has finally come to an end.
The Heartbreaking Fate of Hunter, the Little Boy with Cancer
One of the most emotionally painful subplots concerns a child called Hunter who suffers from brain cancer. His family seems to have hope that funding from Belle would allow them to get the treatment that could save his life.
In the final episode, however, Hunter’s mother Fiona tells us that her child is no longer undergoing treatment. We see this and understand she is giving up hope and is more likely to have never received the funds that they were relying on.
Real-Life Inspiration
Hunter’s story is almost similar to Joshua Schwarz whose parents, Penne and Wolfgang Schwarz, got much more than what they signed up for with Belle. Penne and Wolfgang were unaware that Belle used Joshua’s name to raise money without notifying the family. The outburst from Joshua’s family was very distressing and uncalled for after the little boy claimed they were to blame as they acted as silent partners.
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Did Belle Really Crash a Funeral?
Yes, she did.
One of the more embarrassing scenes is when Belle, who has been a nuisance to Milla, shows up for the funeral which she has been greatly at fault for not taking Milla for proper treatment and pulls a very distressing stunt. This is really shocking as mourners have to put up with Belle’s exaggerated show of grief.
This is an event that actually took place. Belle attended the funeral of Jessica Ainscough, an Australian wellness blogger who rejected conventional cancer treatments in favor of holistic remedies. To many of the attendees, her appearance at the funeral looked like a mockery of the occasion being held.
Does Lucy Survive?
Lucy’s character is one out of very few who actually suffer from cancer and as such, utilizes various alternative treatments before returning back to medication. In the last couple of seconds, we see her share an embrace with her husband Justin as she undergoes chemotherapy. This leaves the audience with the question of whether the treatment actually worked.
Many cancer sufferers are taken in by pseudoscience remedies and Lucy’s story, even if she seems fictionalized, is an amalgamation of all these patients’ accounts.
Final Verdict: How Accurate is Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar?
Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar is designed in a way that makes the viewer wonder what parts of the documentary are true and what parts have been overly dramatized for effect. While some facts may have been crossed off, the overarching themes of manipulation, deception, and exploitation are sadly very real.
The Real Takeaway: The Dangers of Wellness Scams
Belle Gibson’s account is not merely a true crime story; it is a warning. Where influencers have begun to dominate the scene, data misrepresentation can be dangerous.
The series puts a lot of stress on critical analysis, scientific proof, and moral responsibility in the field of health and wellness.
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Final Thoughts
Absolutely! This series takes an engaging approach to a crime documentary which everyone can enjoy, and other genres like psychological thrillers and dramas are no exception either.
With Kaitlyn Dever at the center of this thriller, in addition to the shocking true-life elements that the film so effectively integrates, Apple Cider Vinegar is, without a doubt, one of the most captivating novels on Netflix this year.
