Apple Cider Vinegar is Netflix’s latest smash hit, following the story of cancer-faker Belle Gibson, who actually existed – but what about tragic Milla Blake?
Apple Cider Vinegar fans have been taken by the sick rivalry between cancer-faker Belle Gibson and Milla Blake, who actually does have the disease.
Belle Gibson is a real person, who was an Australian wellness influencer who had thousands of social media followers for her app, The Whole Pantry. She landed a book deal off the back of it and made over £250,000 in two years, giving much to charity.
However, it eventually emerged that the brain cancer she claimed to have was a fabrication, and her social media persona was all a lie. She never had cancer, and was exposed, eventually doing a toe-curling television interview in which she tried to dodge straight-forward questions.
In the Netflix drama, Belle (played by Kaitlyn Dever) has a twisted rivalry with Milla Blake (Alycia Debnam-Carey), who does have cancer, but is also trying alternative treatments. Sadly, they do not work and her condition worsens.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar’s Milla a real person?
The short answer is, no. However clear inspiration has been taken from another Australian woman, Jessica Ainscough, who was diagnosed with epithelioid sarcoma in 2008 when she was 22.
She launched a blog, The Wellness Warrior, about the alternative therapies she was using in her apparent recovery. Originally, as in the drama, doctors had wanted to amputate, but Jessica refused, just like Milla.
Jessica went on a juice therapy, called Gerson, which also involved five coffee enemas a day. Amazingly, it appeared to be working for a while.
What happened to Jessica Ainscough?
Sadly, in 2015, Jessica died at the age of 29. Her mum Sharyn died a year earlier after also ditching traditional medication for the same Gerson therapy.
In her final months, Jessica admitted her “beliefs have been completely shaken up” due to her condition worsening. She eventually did turn to radiotherapy, but it did not work and she tragically died.
Did Belle and Jessica know each other?
In Apple Cider Vinegar, Belle and Milla have a frosty relationship. They meet at an event and then interact online.
In reality, Belle and Jessica had little to do with each other outside of the internet. Jessica also didn’t set out to expose Belle, unlike Milla.
The sick rivalry between the two characters is mainly based upon fiction.
Apple Cider Vinegar is available to stream on Netflix now
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
