A former health and wellness blogger may be forced to publicly apologize after falsely claiming that she cured her terminal cancer with natural remedies, rather than conventional medicine.
According to ABC, blogger Belle Gibson told her readers that she cured her own terminal brain cancer without the help of medical professionals after being diagnosed in 2009.
Instead of treating her supposed diagnosis with chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, the 23-year-old blogger claimed to be “healing” herself with natural remedies, like whole foods.
Unsurprisingly, Gibson used her survival story to promote her Whole Pantry app and book, urging others with life-threatening diseases and illnesses to try her approach for treatment.
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, Gibson also used her fake story to convince others that she would donate a portion of the money she earned from promoting her app to charity.
It’s estimated that Gibson received at least $500,000 for her app and book, none of which was donated as promised.
Gibson fooled her loyal followers for years, until the truth finally came to light: she never had brain cancer.
Everything was a lie that Gibson created to help her get more money from her app and book.
According to court documents, Consumer Affairs Victoria now wants the disgraced blogger to pay a fine and publish an official apology in newspapers, advising cancer patients to seek real medical attention from actual doctors.
The regulator said Gibson engaged in "unconscionable conduct" by claiming she had been diagnosed with brain cancer in 2009 and given four months to live.
Although Gibson did tell the Australian Women’s Weekly that her story was a total lie, Consumer Affairs Victoria wants her confession in writing to make sure her message doesn’t spread to anybody in need of real medical attention.
