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REAL

Episode 44: The Fake Influencer

REAL

Naomi Channell

Society & Culture, News, Documentary, True Crime

4.8725 Ratings

🗓️ 28 February 2024

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When Belle Gibson was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, the 19-year-old Australian mother of one did the unimaginable, she reversed her diagnosis. Not through traditional treatments, but through clean eating and alternative therapies.

So she took to Instagram to show the world how she had cured herself and she soon had 200k followers and business deals with Apple and Penguin.

But then two journalists uncovered something sinister, that took Belle from hero to public enemy number one...

This is Real.

Belle Gibson's 60 Minutes interview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCN2Uvyz72k

If you'd like to support the show, you can do so here, thank you:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/podcast4justice

Cancer support services:

UK - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

Australia - https://www.cancer.org.au/

Ireland - https://mariekeating.ie/cancer-information/cancer-support-services-ireland/

USA - https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services.html

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Warning, this is a true crime podcast and is not suitable for all audiences.

0:05.9

Please use discretion.

0:08.5

How many times have you been online and seen something that really pulls at your heartstrings?

0:15.1

That really stops you in your tracks and makes you think about how unfair life can really be. Maybe you've felt so strongly

0:24.3

that you've sent someone a donation, you've signed a petition, or sent a message of condolence

0:31.1

or hope. Maybe you've been through something similar to their plight, and you connect with them for support,

0:39.5

guidance or advice. In today's case, we're going to look at a case that some might perceive

0:46.4

as a victimless crime. But in reality, that is far from the truth. There are hundreds, if not thousands of victims.

0:57.3

I'm Naomi'm I'm

1:11.6

I'm

1:12.6

I'm If you have any sort of social media accounts, there's a chance that you've come across influencers.

1:43.8

It's a relatively new term, but it's now a viable career.

1:48.7

Being popular on social media can earn you some serious money with virtually no overheads.

1:56.4

But there is one problem.

1:58.7

The internet is not regulated, so people can promote products that don't

2:03.6

really work. They can sell you diet plans they've never tried and promote businesses that

2:09.9

they've never actually used in exchange for payment. It's down to us to choose what we believe.

2:16.9

But there are some situations in life that mean we can be more vulnerable, more willing and more trusting because we want something so much.

2:28.1

An example of that could be someone with a potentially life-limiting illness.

2:37.6

Annabelle Natalie Gibson, known as Bell,

2:47.1

was born on the 8th of October 1991 in Tasmania, Australia. Her early life was not conventional.

2:56.3

She's told reporters that she lived with friends from the age of 12, and it was around this time that she moved to Brisbane.

...

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