Sydney: An Australian blogger and author who became a hit after claiming she was winning a battle with brain cancer through wholefoods and alternative therapies admitted today she was lying and never had the disease.
Belle Gibson launched her successful The Whole Pantry business in 2013 billed as the world's first health, wellness and lifestyle app community on the back of healing herself naturally.
She also published The Whole Pantry cookbook last year, which publisher Penguin pulled from sale last month when suspicions sparked by the Australian media first arose. It had been due for release soon in the United States and Britain.
Her app had also reportedly been hand-picked by tech giant Apple for its new smartwatch.
Mother-of-one Gibson, 23, has now admitted she fabricated the cancer, when quizzed by the Australian Women's Weekly.
"No. None of it is true," she confessed in an interview published today entitled "My lifelong struggle with the truth".
"I just think (speaking out) was the responsible thing to do. Above anything else, I want people to say 'okay, she's human'."
Reports said she had received hate mail and even death threats since being exposed. She said that the backlash had been "beyond horrible".
Gibson did not go into detail about her motivations for lying, other than that she had a troubled childhood.
The magazine said accountants were winding up The Whole Pantry business.
Gibson's lie began unraveling when it emerged last month that she failed to donate Aus$300,000 (US$232,000) in profits from the sales of her book to charity as promised and friends started to question her diagnosis via the media.
Todd Harper, the chief of local charity Cancer Council Victoria, urged patients to be wary of cure claims that sounded too good to be true.
"We are very concerned about anyone who makes unproven scientifically flawed claims about cancer treatments because the risk is that cancer patients will take them seriously," he said, without commenting specifically on Gibson.
He added that patients should consult their doctor before trying alternative or complementary treatments, including extreme diets.
Belle Gibson launched her successful The Whole Pantry business in 2013 billed as the world's first health, wellness and lifestyle app community on the back of healing herself naturally.
She also published The Whole Pantry cookbook last year, which publisher Penguin pulled from sale last month when suspicions sparked by the Australian media first arose. It had been due for release soon in the United States and Britain.
Mother-of-one Gibson, 23, has now admitted she fabricated the cancer, when quizzed by the Australian Women's Weekly.
Advertisement
"I just think (speaking out) was the responsible thing to do. Above anything else, I want people to say 'okay, she's human'."
Advertisement
Gibson did not go into detail about her motivations for lying, other than that she had a troubled childhood.
Advertisement
Gibson's lie began unraveling when it emerged last month that she failed to donate Aus$300,000 (US$232,000) in profits from the sales of her book to charity as promised and friends started to question her diagnosis via the media.
Advertisement
"We are very concerned about anyone who makes unproven scientifically flawed claims about cancer treatments because the risk is that cancer patients will take them seriously," he said, without commenting specifically on Gibson.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Belle Gibson Branded "Instagram's Most Infamous Con Artist." Here's Why Australian Blogger Belle Gibson Guilty Over Cancer Claims: Report Australian Blogger Who Lied About Cancer Faces Legal Action 3 Grams Of Explosives Per Pager: Israel's Complex Op To Hurt Hezbollah What Is A Pager And Why Hezbollah Still Relies On This Outdated Device "Wear Proper Undergarments": Delta Airlines' New Memo For Flight Attendants FIR Against Choreographer Jani Master After Ex Colleague Alleges Sex Assault Sri Lanka Polls: Frontrunners, What's At Stake, Implications For India 2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift Review: Fortified for the Family! Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.