'I faked having terminal cancer' - popular Australian health blogger admits

onnaedo

April 23, 2015 12:32 PM

Belle Gibson, who is a "wellness" blogger built a successful business on claims that she had terminal cancer by chronicling her alleged battle with cancer on a blog, The Whole Pantry.

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Belle Gibson, a successful Australian blogger has admitted that she infact faked surviving terminal cancer.

Gibson, who is a "wellness" blogger built a successful business on claims that she had terminal cancer by chronicling her alleged battle with cancer on a blog, The Whole Pantry.

The blog would later go on to spawn an app and recipe book.

According to BBC, Gibson rose to prominence in 2013 after claiming she was treating her malignant brain cancer with whole foods and alternative therapies.

She went on to build a huge following on social media for her recipes and so-called "wellness" tips. However when she was pressed to show medical records to back up her story, she refused.

Doubts about her claims finally began to creep in after she failed to deliver a promised $300,000 donation to charity.

Now in an interview with Australia's Women's Weekly magazine, Gibson admitted "none of it's true".

According to her:

"I am still jumping between what I think I know and what is reality, I have lived it and I'm not really there yet,"

She however said she didn't want forgiveness and said she was only speaking out because it was the right thing to do. She further added that all she wanted from people was for them to think of her as human.

Meanwhile, Gibson's recipe book was withdrawn by Penguin in March and her app was removed by Apple from its online store.

The magazine Gibson had the interview with has said she "cried easily and muddled her words" whenever challenged. It also added that while the blogger was passionate "about avoiding gluten, dairy and coffee, but doesn't really understand how cancer works."

Also her partner, Clive Rothwell, who did not know about her deception is reportedly devastated but is very supportive.

onnaedo