I just finished watching a two-part documentary on Belle Gibson, the Australian wellness influencer who pretended to have terminal brain cancer and built a small empire off the back of that lie.
If you’re unfamiliar with the story, brace yourself. This influencer made hundreds of thousands of dollars (or possibly more) through app sales, a book deal, media appearances and brand partnerships, all while claiming she had treated herself through natural and alternative therapies.
She never had cancer.
Her story is one of the most shocking and extreme examples of what happens when wellness culture goes unchecked. But the uncomfortable truth is that her case isn’t as unique as we might like to think. It’s just the tip of the influencer iceberg.
Read more below.