Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS For Apple Cider Vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar mostly focuses on Belle Gibson, but viewers might be wondering if someone named Milla Blake really competed with her. Netflix’s show is based on Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano’s true crime novel, The Woman Who Fooled the World, and attempts to retell, and reimagine, the events and actions of the woman who grew a wellness empire by lying about having cancer. While actress Kaitlyn Dever plays the infamous influencer, Alycia Debnam-Carey plays a part just as important, which is already receiving praise in Apple Cider Vinegar’s reviews.
Set during the early 2010s and the rise of Instagram, Apple Cider Vinegar investigates a specific holistic influencer and the role she might have played in informing Belle Gibson’s terrible actions. At the beginning of every episode, however, Apple Cider Vinegar’s characters break the fourth wall to clarify that, even if the narrative is based on a truth, “some names have been changed and some characters invented.” This is the case for Alycia Debnam-Carey’s Milla Blake who, despite being essential to Apple Cider Vinegar’s solid Rotten Tomatoes score, is not based on a real person.
Milla Blake Is Not Based On A Real Person In Apple Cider Vinegar
Milla Blake Represents The Influencers That Belle Gibson Took Inspiration From
Image via Netflix
In Apple Cider Vinegar, Alycia Debnam-Carey plays Milla Blake, a wellness influencer who runs the blog greenstonehealing.com. Milla’s online platform is presented as the thing that Belle takes most inspiration from, even going as far as copying Blake’s writing word for word in her speeches. After convincing herself she had beaten her cancer with holistic treatments, Blake commits herself to sharing her discoveries with others — empowering cancer patients to take control of their bodies and seek healing in nature.
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Though Milla’s journey can be similar to that of many real people, she is not based on a real person in Belle Gibson’s life. Rather, she is meant to represent an amalgamation of holistic influencers that spread hope when conventional medicine often can’t. Apple Cider Vinegar puts forward that, having recognized the powerful and praised message from sick wellness influencers, Gibson was motivated to replicate it. However, Milla’s journey goes far beyond her competition with the character of The Last Of Us’ Kaitlyn Dever, as Milla does, in fact, have cancer.
What Happens To Milla Blake In Apple Cider Vinegar
Milla Blake’s Arm Cancer Spreads, Killing Her In Apple Cider Vinegar’s Ending
Though Milla Blake is presented as an empowered, and a bit narcissistic, woman, she is just a victim of misinformation and fear. In 2009, Blake is diagnosed with a cancer called pleomorphic sarcoma undifferentiated, which has formed tumors in her arm. When doctors recommend the strongest course of action is to amputate her arm to avoid spreading, Milla can’t seem to accept it. She goes online and seeks a myriad of alternatives, convincing herself that she doesn’t have to follow conventional medicine.
Milla’s external success appears to mirror her internal healing, but that can’t be farther from the truth.
As a result, Milla seeks treatment at the Hirsch Institute in Mexico, a so-called cancer clinic that uses a holistic health protocol. Convinced that a strict diet of mixed juices and coffee enemas is curing her, Milla starts sharing her journey and discoveries online, empowering others to take control of their bodies and seek healing in nature. She becomes a popular influencer and mentor, starts her own brand of juices, and even publishes a book. Milla’s external success appears to mirror her internal healing, but that can’t be farther from the truth.
Certain as she is, Blake even goes as far as convincing her mother to seek the same treatment when she is diagnosed with cancer. However, Milla’s mother dies just before they fly to Hirsch Institute, causing her to finally acknowledge her own declining health. Milla Blake’s story is the most heartbreaking in Apple Cider Vinegar, especially because her tragic ending is her own doing. Debnam-Carey’s character dies, her arm cancer having metastasized and spread to her lung, rib, and sacrum.
The Real Meaning Of Milla Blake’s Character In Apple Cider Vinegar
Milla Blake Shows The Real Outcome Of Manipulating Cancer Treatments
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To understand the role of It’s What’s Inside’s Alycia Debnam-Carey in Apple Cider Vinegar, and why the writers created her character, it is important to break down her online message and life experience. Unlike Belle, Milla does have cancer. Even if she claims to be a survivor, Blake suffers the symptoms of her illness throughout, and like other people with a terminal illness, she hates feeling like she’s not in control. Because of this, and like so many others, she is quick to believe in alternative medicine, as it gives her the hope of a magical, miracle cure.
Whereas Gibson loves attention and success, Blake thinks holistic medicine really saved her life. Not only is Belle taking away Milla’s voice and real experience, but she uses it to advance her career. Milla’s presence in Apple Cider Vinegar makes Belle’s actions way worse, as she fakes something that is actively hurting and killing others. Although the show makes it seem that Milla destroying Belle will be an act of poetic justice, ultimately, Apple Cider Vinegar highlights that cancer is not a thing to manipulate to one’s own convenience, but a very serious and real illness.