Apple Cider Vinegar Ending Explained: What Happened to Belle Gibson?

Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar unpacks the shocking rise and fall of Belle Gibson, a wellness blogger who deceived the world with her fabricated cancer diagnosis and fraudulent charity claims. 

The six-part true crime drama explores her web of lies through multiple perspectives, showing how she manipulated her audience, exploited their trust, and ultimately faced the consequences of her deception. But does Belle ever truly pay for her actions? Here’s how the show wraps up her story.

Does Belle Gibson Go to Jail?

Despite scamming people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, Belle never serves jail time. As her lies unravel, she is abandoned by friends, followers, and business partners. Apple drops her, her book deal falls apart, and her wellness empire crumbles. Facing public outrage, she tries to reinvent herself but realizes that her reputation is beyond repair.

Instead of admitting guilt, Belle plans to leave Australia and restart her life in the U.S., where she is less infamous. However, her attempt to clear her name through an interview only backfires, further solidifying her downfall. While the show leaves her fate ambiguous, real-life reports confirm that she was fined $410,000 in 2017 for charity fraud. 

By 2020, authorities raided her home to recover the money, and she was later cut off from the Australian Oromo Community, where she had been involved. Since then, she has disappeared from public view, fueling speculation about whether she is quietly plotting a return under a new identity.

Does Clive Leave Belle?

One of the most baffling aspects of Belle’s story is the loyalty of Clive Rothwell, her long-time partner. Even as her empire collapses and the world turns against her, Clive remains by her side, raising her son as his own. At first, it seems like financial security might be his motive, but when Belle’s fortune vanishes, he still doesn’t leave.

The real reason for his commitment? The child. Clive fears that if he walks away, he will lose all contact with the boy he helped raise. He even attempts to convince the biological father, Nathan, to seek custody, but Nathan refuses to take responsibility. 

Ultimately, Clive stays because he doesn’t want the boy to suffer the consequences of Belle’s actions alone. However, reports from 2023 suggest that Clive and Belle have since separated.

Does Lucy Survive?

Lucy Guthrie, a cancer patient who initially follows Belle’s advice on alternative medicine, becomes the driving force behind Belle’s downfall. Her husband, Justin, is determined to expose Belle’s lies before Lucy jeopardizes her own health by rejecting conventional treatment. However, his obsession with taking Belle down strains their marriage, leading Lucy to seek peace on her own terms.

When Lucy finally undergoes surgery, the show leaves her fate open-ended. While we don’t know if she survives, her final moments emphasize her determination to live life fully, no matter how much time she has left. More importantly, Justin learns to prioritize his relationship with her over his crusade against Belle, ensuring that she doesn’t face her battle alone.

Belle Gibson’s Legacy: What Happens Next?

Apple Cider Vinegar ends with an unconventional twist, encouraging viewers to Google Belle Gibson’s real-life story instead of presenting title cards with her fate. What we find is a tale of deception, legal consequences, and an eventual disappearance from the public eye. While Belle may have avoided prison, her reputation is irreparably destroyed, and she now lives in obscurity.

But is this truly the last we’ll hear of her? With rumors that she may be planning a return under a new identity, the real story of Belle Gibson may not be over just yet.

Where can you Watch Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple Cider Vinegar is now streaming on Netflix.