CLIVE Rothwell was the partner of Belle Gibson, a woman who faked a cancer diagnosis in order to make money.
Her elaborate con is dramatised in the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar, which features a portrayal of Clive.
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The real-life Clive
Little is known about the real-life Clive though it is known that he lived with Gibson for some time.
There were rumours that the pair were engaged, but Belle would later claim in court that she knew little about Clive.
During that same trial, she denied that they were ever romantically involved or engaged.
Gibson did say that Clive pays $600 each week towards their rent and that he also pays her legal fees.
Gibson’s elaborate con
Gibson is widely known for her elaborate scam which saw her fake a brain cancer diagnosis.
The Australian social media influencer began to grow her social media following in 2013 when she documented her “quest to heal myself naturally”.
She launched an app named The Whole Pantry which contained a collection of healthy recipes and lifestyle guides.
Eventually, her app became so big that she was able to launch a Whole Pantry wellness brand.
She earned half a million dollars in less than two years from the scam.
During this time, she claimed that her cancer had spread to her blood, spleen, brain, uterus and liver.
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Eventually, her scam was unravelled by two investigative journalists Beau Donnelly and Nick Toscano.
They received a tip that she was lying about her cancer diagnosis, prompting them to discover that she wasn’t donating the money she was making (as she claimed that she was).
Eventually, the Australian Federal Court fined her $401,000 for making false claims about her charitable donations.
Clive’s TV portrayal
In the series Apple Cider Vinegar, Clive is played by Ashley Zuckerman.
His character acts as a supportive step-dad to Belle’s young son and helps support her online social media accounts.
However, their relationship ultimately falls apart when his parents tell him that they don’t believe Belle’s cancer claims.
Apple Cider Vinegar landed on Netflix on February 6, 2025, and is available to stream.
