Watch: Sandra Bullock Shares Rare Message Of “Concern” for Her Family and Fans Amid Social Media Scams
Get ready for the story of a wellness scam gone sour.
In the new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, streaming Feb. 6, influencer Belle Gibson builds a media empire based on a lie that she had overcome a terminal brain cancer diagnosis through diet and lifestyle changes. And while she later admitted her cancer claims were false, the story of her meteoric rise and catastrophic downfall was, in fact, based on true events.
The Australian blogger (played by Kaitlyn Dever in the show) amassed a massive Instagram following amid the rise of social media in the early 2010s, leveraging her audience to launch an app called The Whole Pantry and release a cookbook by the same name. But inconsistencies in Gibson’s story began to emerge, with journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano reporting that she failed to pay organizations she purported to fundraise for in 2013, according to Forbes.
As more allegations hit the press, Gibson, 33, eventually owned up to her deception when asked if she ever actually had cancer.
“No,” she confessed to The Australian Women’s Weekly in 2015. “None of it’s true.”
And while Gibson did not face criminal charges for her actions, she did express hope of being redeemed in the court of public opinion.
“Above anything,” she continued, “I would like people to say, ‘Okay, she’s human. She’s obviously had a big life. She’s respectfully come to the table and said what she’s needed to say, and now it’s time for her to grow and heal.’”
Meanwhile, the journalists’ book, The Woman Who Fooled the World, serves as the basis for the six-episode drama—which also stars Alycia Debnam-Carey, Aisha Dee and Tilda Cobham-Hervey—though authors Donelly and Toscano previously admitted even they questioned Gibson’s true motivations.
“I think we will never fully understand what motivates her,” Donelly told Vice in 2018, “and find out who Belle Gibson really is.”
While Apple Cider Vinegar viewers come to their own conclusions, keep scrolling for more new TV series headed your way.
The 20 new cases analyzed this season include the murder of an Indian prince known for his extravagant lifestyle; the killing of a man whose body was found in the debris following Hurricane Sandy; a man whose Hell’s Kitchen murder changed the city’s club scene and made headlines nationwide; a successful tech entrepreneur stabbed to death at the height of his career; and a serial killer who kept Brooklyn on edge.
Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg will co-host Investigation Discovery’s thrilling new spinoff special Very Scary Lovers.
Fueled by their shared passion for true crime storytelling, Donnie and Jenny take viewers on a chilling journey behind the headlines of one of the most diabolical criminal couples in recent history: Benjamin and Erika Sifrit, infamously known as “The Thrill Kill Couple.”
Courteney Cox, Andy Garcia, Goldie Hawn, Rob Lowe, Kyle MacLachlan and Sarah Silverman enlist the help of Jonathan and Drew Scott on the new season of the home renovation show.
Trae Patton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images/Kevin Mazur/CMT
Adam Levine reclaims his red swivel chair and Kelsea Ballerini joins the singing competition series alongside fellow season 27 coaches John Legend and Michael Bublé.
A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.
The Spanish-language comedy tells the story of the cautious Raúl, who reconnects with free-spirited and newly pregnant Marta, following his heart cancer diagnosis. They resume a friendship that began in childhood, and in a relationship brought together by fate, begin to test their beliefs about love. Can the commitment-phobic Marta fall in love? And can Raúl meet the love of his life?
The Kardashian-Jenners return with a year full of challenges, milestones and new adventures. With uncertain futures and their past returning to haunt them, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, Kylie and Kris will have to rely on each other as they navigate their roles as moms and businesswomen, to overcome the obstacles that come with their increasingly complicated lives.
This heartfelt comedy follows Harry (George Wallace), an old-school car wash owner in Alabama who has a lot of soul searching to do when the child he thought was a son returns after 17 years as a proud trans woman, Desiree (Laverne Cox). Her homecoming brings together a hilarious cast of friends, coworkers, and love interests as Desiree and Harry try to get it right the second time around. The series explores universal themes of unconditional love, all through Norman Lear’s signature boundary-pushing brand of comedy.
Set at the birth of Instagram, Apple Cider Vinegar follows two young women who set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online communities along the way. All of which would be incredibly inspiring if it were all true.
This is a true-ish story based on a lie, about the rise and fall of a wellness empire; the culture that built it up and the people who tore it down.
Come spend the holidays in Serenity, as Sseason four of Sweet Magnolias takes us from Halloween to Christmas, with surprising laughter, unexpected heartbreak, and renewed resolve along the way.
While negotiating the twists and turns of their romantic lives, Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen must also navigate the return of old foes, the loss of great loves, and the pain of transition from past dreams to present ones. As the men in their lives pursue their own dreams and the teenagers take uneasy steps toward adulthood, the Magnolias support each other with creative problem-solving, deep-hearted commitment, and — as always — weekly margaritas.
Advertising maven Monica Marks (Lauren Graham) and her loyal right hand executive Doug Garcia (Nico Santos) have long been at the top of the Madison Avenue world. But after a record scratch blunder, they are suddenly canceled, pushed out and replaced by the agency’s rising Gen Z employees led by social media manager, Kriska Thompson (Madison Shamoun). Refusing to go quietly, Monica launches her biggest campaign yet–getting their careers back and taking down the eager team of Gen-Zers who are just getting comfortable in their new roles. May the best generation win.
The Rob Lowe-hosted game show returns Super Bowl Sunday.
Puppy Bowl, the original and longest running call-to-adoption television event, returns for the 21st year on Feb. 9 and will be simulcast across Animal Planet, Discovery, TBS, truTV, Max and discovery+.
The annual three-hour television event will feature 142 rescue puppies from 80 shelters across 40 states – and two countries – as they compete in the cutest competition of the year. With more puppies than ever before, Puppy Bowl XXI will highlight their inspiring journeys from birth to adoption, as well as the tremendous dedication of the rescues and shelters that help find animals their forever homes.
Twelve families and amateur survivalists embark on a treacherous adventure in the wild in an attempt to win $250,000.
Surviving Black Hawk Down tells the gripping real story of the horror and heroism behind the events that inspired Ridley Scott’s blockbuster movie Black Hawk Down, blending raw, immersive storytelling with first-person interviews from both sides of The Battle of Mogadishu.
Returning this summer unsure of where everyone stands, these housemates find themselves bonding over a growing wombmate and determined to get back to the carefree group that loves to send it. Nine favorites return to the Hamptons, along with two fresh faces ready to have some fun in the sun.
The celebrity singing competition series returns for season 13.
Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME
Season three will continue to follow the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.
The hit reality series is back for an eighth season, following a new set of singles from Minnesota—all ready to cut through the static of modern dating and forge authentic relationships, sight unseen. This season, the singles form deep and immediate connections, setting the stage for an unexpected journey full of twists, turns, and shocking revelations that will test each relationship well after the participants leave the pods for the real world.
Season three is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week.
Fatal Family Feuds explores how a minor family disagreement could transform into a deadly altercation. The show delves into cases where a person lost their life at the hands of someone they should have been able to trust the most, their family. Each episode focuses on a different family, dissecting how exactly a disagreement with their nearest and dearest results in a callous murder. As the story of the feud unfolds, experience the twists, turns, red herrings and revelations within each case until the perpetrator is caught and the feud comes to a just conclusion.
SNL celebrates its historic milestone with a look back at half a decade of epic sketches and guests.
TLC/Warner Bros. Discovery
The new season captures the riveting journeys of intercultural couples—Americans and their foreign fiancés—as they navigate the thrilling complexities of love, cultural differences, and societal pressures. With just 90 days to wed before their K1 visas expire, these couples must overcome significant hurdles or face the heartbreaking reality of separation.
This season features three exciting new pairs, three returning couples from previous franchises and its first-ever throuple.
Season 23 will parody Top Gun, which will chronicle Peter/Maverick getting together with Lois/Charlie, the tragic death of Joe/Goose, and Peter/Maverick’s blooming relationship with Chris/Rooster. Additionally, this season, Peter runs into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at a brewery tour, Lois becomes a stand-up comedian and Meg starts dating a chicken she meets on a reality dating show.
20th Television/Fox Media
Season the season five premiere, Wolf finally gets cast on the local Alaskan survival show Dropped Off To Die, but when he’s out early, his shame leads him to sneak home and hide on the Tobin property instead in “The Prince of Hides Adventure” episode of The Great North.
The animated comedy returns with new episodes this February.
On the season two premiere, Harmony (Erinn Hayes) pushes Flute (Jon Hamm) to move out, resulting in him moving into a house haunted by a doting housewife. Things soon go awry when Flute invites everyone for an adult party at his house, and Flute’s disregard of the ghost prompts her to threaten their lives in the all-new “Haunted Housewife” episode of Grimsburg.
The documentary reveals the little-known story of a group of college basketball players who were tasked with preparing Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan and the rest of the legendary “Dream Team” for their Olympic debut in 1992. In an unexpected twist, the college team shocked the NBA superstars by defeating them in a scrimmage – an outcome that ultimately helped propel the Dream Team to gold.
Investigation Discovery is set to premiere an hour-long special delving into the psyche of alleged United Healthcare CEO assassin. With commentary from experts throughout, including executive producer Dan Abrams, criminologist Casey Jordan, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny, as well as Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, the special aims to unpack Mangione’s background and track his trajectory to understand what led him to land behind bars. Through narration of his digital archives, including his own online posts and Reddit discussions, those close to Mangione bring comprehensive insight into his personality, health struggles and chronic pain, offering a deeper understanding of his mental state leading up to the alleged crime
Based on Lee Child’s novel Persuader, in the third season of the action-packed series, Reacher hurtles into the dark heart of a vast criminal enterprise when trying to rescue an undercover DEA informant whose time is running out. There he finds a world of secrecy and violence—and confronts some unfinished business from his own past.
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