What Netflix and Mainstream Media Got Wrong About Wellness
My unfiltered thoughts on cancer scammers, MAHA, wellness influencers and alternative medicine.
Earlier this month, I mentioned that I was watching the much-talked-about Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, which chronicles the rise and fall of real-life wellness influencer/cancer scammer Belle Gibson. Belle appallingly faked a Stage IV brain cancer diagnosis and then used her miraculous holistic “healing” protocol to grow a massive Instagram following, score a major book deal and develop a wellness app that landed a lucrative collaboration with Apple. All the while, she perpetuated her completely false story of healing to vulnerable cancer patients and legions of fans until she was finally caught and convicted in 2015 for her lies.
While Belle is the obvious villain in the story, the show takes not-so-subtle aim at wellness influencers and alternative medicine in general. Since Apple Cider Vinegar’s release, several major publications have released articles in response to the show, alluding that anyone who questions conventional medicine should, unequivocally, be considered irresponsible, foolish and dangerous (even if they’re not a pathological liar likely suffering from Münchausen syndrome). Taking Belle and her deception out of the equation, holistic health is an increasingly divisive topic, politicized by the MAHA movement and the recent appointment of RFK Jr. as Secretary of HHS. Based on what I’ve seen online in the last few weeks, it definitely feels like the wellness movement is under attack.
Not surprisingly, I have some (slightly controversial) thoughts about this; so much of my personal story and professional expertise revolve around holistic nutrition, especially as it relates to cancer, so it would feel strange and omissive to not address it here, even if it raises some eyebrows. I’ll be getting into my very candid thoughts on Big Pharma, our medical system, holistic vs. conventional cancer treatments, MAHA, wellness influencers and more, so let’s get right into it.