Maintenance Phase: "Illness Influencer" Belle Gibson
February 1, 2022 9:45 AM - Subscribe

In 2015, Belle Gibson was an Australian "eco-preneur" with a vegetarian cookbook, a blockbuster wellness app and a terminal cancer diagnosis. Today, she's one of the most hated figures in the country.Support us:Hear bonus episodes on PatreonDonate on PayPalGet Maintenance Phase T-shirts, stickers and more https://www.patreon.com/maintenancephase
posted by bq (8 comments total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
I was definitely not ready for the reveal at 56:30.
posted by GenericUser at 9:32 AM on February 2, 2022


Me neither!
posted by bq at 9:41 AM on February 2, 2022


Me either, and I covered the period of her demise (as a very short note, but still!) Well done for going that deeply.
posted by warriorqueen at 12:04 PM on February 2, 2022


Re: pathology and the clip of her talking about her age

The comparison that came to mind for me was Lance Armstrong. If you watch the interview with Oprah, he comes across as totally in control and making calculated decisions.

Whereas Belle does not seem in control of her own mouth.
posted by bq at 12:55 PM on February 2, 2022


I assumed she'd never been sick since that seemed like the natural twist on this kind of story but seeing just how deep it went it still quite shocking.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:15 PM on February 2, 2022


Listening to the audio of her avoiding answering how old she was - good lord. That was evidence of something. I have no idea what that something is but wow.
posted by PussKillian at 6:51 PM on February 2, 2022 [4 favorites]


Jesus, this was a wild fucken ride. Good on Mike for his research.
posted by kitten kaboodle at 1:16 AM on February 3, 2022 [2 favorites]


Excellent episode! Never had heard of this person. Glad they got to the real heart of the matter, which is not one person's fabulist tendencies but a section of the industry that feels no obligation to fact-check any claims if it gets in the way of a profitable story, and their unwillingness to make any changes in the wake evidence that they're spewing harmful bullshit.
posted by skewed at 6:28 AM on February 16, 2022


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