The Search For Instagram’s Worst Con Artist, a new ITVX documentary series, unravels BELLE Gibson’s lethal lie.
Clive Rothwell is a name connected to Gibson and her network of deception. But who is he and what role did he play in the fraud committed by the former influencer? Here’s all the information you require.
Who is Clive Rothwell?
According to rumors, Clive Rothwell was formerly engaged to Belle Gibson, a “Wellness Guru” who became wealthy by fabricating a cancer diagnosis.
When Gibson appeared in court in 2019, she stated under oath that she knew very little about Rothwell, including his profession, which at the time was reportedly that of an IT consultant.
But sources informed The Daily Mail he was taking on the role of stepfather for her child.
Furthermore, he reportedly “paid for her legal fees, including $5500 for lawyers who represented her in the Federal Court,” according to a report in the Mail.
How was Clive Rothwell involved with Belle Gibson?
Belle Gibson started her web of lies in 2009.
Gibson stated that she had three heart operations, twice passing away while still on the operating table and learning that she had a brain tumor that was incurable and had six months to live.
In the early days of her deranged plan, Belle wrote in a post, “Five years ago today, I was sitting in front of a man who was about to tell me I was dying from malignant brain cancer with six months to live.”
In the years that followed, the perverted woman would fabricate a cunning backstory to enhance her brand and appeal to cancer patients worldwide.
She stated that she fought through excruciating radiation and chemotherapy for two months before giving up to look at complementary medicine as a treatment.
After four years, she claimed that her natural healing from cancer was being facilitated by nutrition, holistic medicine, vitamins, and oxygen treatment, and that she could help other cancer patients achieve the same results.
After garnering over 300,000 followers, Belle went on to develop The Whole Pantry, an app, and write a cookbook to go along with it in 2013.
She told her readers in the book that she was told by a doctor that she had cancer and that she was dying. The time is six weeks. At most, four months.
After being downloaded 200,000 times in its first month, the software swiftly rose to the top of the software Store rankings.
After her achievement, she purchased a new BMW X3, moved into a £582,200 oceanfront home, and had her teeth straightened cosmetically.
She gave the impression that her wellness enterprise was indestructible, but in 2015, everything fell apart for the blogger.
The scammer had earlier stated that she was collaborating with 20 organizations and that 95% of the money from her app was donated to charities.
Journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano reached out to Belle, requesting detailed details about her health as well as an official breakdown of the sums donated to the charities.
She was discovered to have not given the money to charity that she had claimed to have given.
Following the discovery of Belle’s lies, a noteworthy legal case transpired in 2017.
Additionally, Gibson’s recipe book was taken down by Penguin, and Apple took her app down from its web store.
She was fined $410,000 (£240,000) after being found guilty of five violations of consumer legislation.
Gibson revealed that Rothwell was the one who had been financing her way of life ever since her lethal deceit was discovered.
Gibson claimed she didn’t know anything about Clive, who is thought to have blown thousands on her, when she appeared in Federal Court.
He reportedly covered her legal fees, subsidized her lifestyle, and paid for opulent excursions abroad.
Does Belle Gibson have any children?
Oliver, a son, is Gibson’s only child.
Gibson’s kid Oliver was born in July 2010, but his father’s name has not been made public.
It was said that Rothwell treated him like a stepfather.
