Belle Gibson: Cancer fraudster’s partner Clive Rothwell ditches her for another woman – as Netflix series about her life is set to expose her sick scam to an audience of millions
Notorious fraudster Belle Gibson is about to be thrust back into the spotlight thanks to an upcoming Netflix show based on her cancer con – and it seems the attention may have finally become too much for her long-suffering partner.
Belle, now 32, once claimed she had terminal brain cancer which was cured by simply eating healthy food – but it was later discovered she never had the disease.
Her shameless lie became a cause célèbre in Australia, and the story of ‘Healing Belle’ will soon be told around the world when the six-part drama starring Emmy-nominated actress Kaitlyn Dever hits screens.
In addition to having her sordid past dragged up, Belle has also been hit with another blow by seemingly parting ways with her partner and ‘housemate’ Clive Rothwell.
Gibson previously shared a rental property with Rothwell, who a source said acted as a ‘stepfather’ to her young son Oliver.
Rothwell paid most of the rent on the home they once shared, and even forked out the cash to take Gibson and her son on a month-long trip to Africa in 2019.
Notorious fraudster Belle Gibson has parted ways with her former benefactor and is about to be thrust back into the spotlight with a Netflix series based on her cancer scam
Gibson previously shared a rental property with Clive Rothwell (pictured together), who a source said acted as a ‘step father’ to her young son Oliver
However, whatever relationship the pair once had appears to have soured, and Daily Mail Australia can confirm Rothwell has moved into a new two-bedroom apartment on a different side of town.
He has also been seen out and about with another woman, and an eyewitness says they haven’t seen Belle or her son anywhere near Rothwell’s new place.
Mr Rothwell declined to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
Making matters worse, Netflix has also commissioned a big budget six-part drama series based on Gibson’s cancer con.
The series, headlined by popular American actress Kaitlyn Dever, has already started filming in Melbourne, and is guaranteed to expose Belle’s fraudulent scheme to a global audience of millions when it premieres next year.
It is possible news of the project’s development caused anxiety and embarrassment for the notoriously private Mr Rothwell.
Rothwell has recently been seen out and about with another woman (both pictured)
He’s also moved into a new two-bedroom apartment across town and an eyewitness says that they haven’t seen Belle or her son anywhere near Rothwell’s new place
Rothwell previously paid most of the rent on the home he once shared with Belle, and even forked out the cash to take Gibson and her son on a month-long trip to Africa in 2019
Dever is already a well known star in the States, having appeared in Booksmart and the Emmy-winning Hulu drama Dopesick.
In 2013, Belle Gibson launched the @healing_belle Instagram account where she gained a large following through sharing so-called ‘healing’ food recipes.
She claimed her lifestyle and healthy eating plan had ‘cured’ her inoperable brain cancer, which she had been diagnosed with at the age of 20 and given just months to live.
Belle claimed she had undergone traditional cancer treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy before abandoning modern medicine to follow a programme of clean eating instead.
Making matters worse, Netflix has also commissioned a big budget six-part drama series based on Gibson’s cancer con starring Kaitlyn Dever
Dever was pictured on the Melbourne set of the series last week
The Hollywood actress clutches a script closely to her chest as she walks to set with several crew members
Before long the deals began to roll in, with Gibson launching an app full of recipes as well as a book deal, reportedly worth $420,000.
Describing her plant-based diet in her book, she said: ‘I was empowering myself to save my own life through nutrition, patience, determination, and love.’
However, in 2014, the Melbourne-based personality claimed that despite her new wellness-focused lifestyle, her cancer had returned, and this time it had spread.
While many fans were devastated by the news, suspicions were soon raised about the money she claimed to have donated to various charities from the proceeds of her book.
Belle, now 32, once claimed she had terminal brain cancer which was cured by simply eating healthy food – but it was later discovered she never had the disease
Belle was later fined around $410,000 after being found guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct
Following an investigation by Fairfax Media, it was discovered that none of the charities Belle had named had received a penny from her.
The influencer’s story quickly began to unravel and in April 2015, she was forced to admit she had lied.
In an interview with Australia Women’s Weekly, she finally came clean about her cancer con and said: ‘No… None of it’s true,’ before adding she hoped people would forgive her and see that she was only ‘human’.
She also appeared in a trainwreck interview on 60 Minutes, where she was grilled about her many falsehoods by reporter Tara Brown.
Two years after her admission, Belle was fined around $410,000 after being found guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct.
The former wellness blogger later adopted the ‘Oromo’ ethnic group in Melbourne, even taking to wearing a headscarf and naming herself ‘Sabontu’.
In 2021, Daily Mail Australia revealed how she claimed to have been adopted by the community, claiming she was ‘blessed by Allah’ and even saying ‘my name is Sobantu’ in the native Afaan Oromo language.
The former wellness blogger later adopted the ‘Oromo’ ethnic group in Melbourne, even taking to wearing a headscarf and naming herself ‘Sabontu’
Ethiopian community sources told Daily Mail Australia Gibson had attended BBQs, weddings, community meetings to ingratiate herself with the Oromo ethnic group.
But alarm bells began to ring when the fraudster started talking about wanting to ‘raise large amounts of money’ for the ethnic group.
After Daily Mail Australia exposed her new connections to Melbourne’s Ethiopian set, a leading member of the community revealed she has now been frozen out forever.
Dr Tarekegn Chimdi, president of the Australian Oromo Community Association in Victoria,said: ‘She was was told not to come.
In 2021, Daily Mail Australia revealed how she claimed to have been adopted by the community, claiming she was ‘blessed by Allah’ and even saying ‘my name is Sobantu’ in the native Afaan Oromo language
A beaming Belle poses with a friend during an Oromo community event
‘It was concerning when someone is using the community’s name who is not a member of that community,’ he continued.
‘She was coming across as more Oromo than Oromo people.’
He added: ‘She is not involved with us. She’s not coming to our place, no way, no time.
‘She is not involved in any fundraising for us. I have not seen her since that happened.’
However, other members of the Oromo community have thrown their support behind the fraudster.
A Shabo Media spokesman said the Belle has ‘changed a lot’ and was ‘trying to move on’ from the scandal.
‘She’s part of the community, she’s into it – she’s trying to help out the community. We know what she’s done before.’