Judge delivers unexpected verdict on cancer faker Belle Gibson

Blogger Belle Gibson, who made a fortune by building a media empire based on her claims to have cured her brain cancer with a health diet, has been found guilty of misleading and deceptive conduct.

But Gibson escaped a guilty verdict on a claim of unconscionable conduct.

Consumer Affairs Victoria had brought a civil case against Gibson, who released a cookbook and healthy eating app on the back of interest in her blogs about nutrition and alternative therapies, after it was revealed that she had never suffered from cancer.

Media reported today that a Federal Court had upheld most but not all of the consumer group’s allegations, But the judge said she did not accept Consumer Affairs Victoria’s allegation that Gibson was “acting unconscionably” because it was possible that the blogger was delusional when she made the false cancer claims.

“She may have had other psychological or psychiatric issues,” the published ruling said, according to reports. Gibson did not attend court for the ruling and will be sentenced at a later date, but had admitted to Australian Women’s Weekly in 2015 that she lied about her illness.

But it would appear she has not signed off entirely from making miraculous claims about alternative therapies.

The Daily Mail reported this week that Gibson, writing under the name Harry Gibson, posted an endorsement on Facebook of the ‘Master Fast System’. Gibson reportedly said the system helped her heal two tooth cavities and even change her eye colour, as well as expelling from her body “two rope worms measuring 15 and 60 centimetres during an enema.”

The Master Fast System website claims that “cleansing and purification is a gateway of energy for reconnection to source” and bases its remedies on dry and water fasts, juices, tinctures and a “plasma pudding.”

Do you believe claims of miraculous success with alternative health remedies? Did you follow Belle Gibson’s story?