The most confusing part of Apple Cider Vinegar isn't Belle's cancer lies. It's her relationship with Clive.

Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar is here, and the story is as wild as it sounds. From its opening moments, where Kaitlyn Dever's Belle Gibson stares defiantly into camera and declares "this is a true story based on a lie," you know you're in for something different.

The six-part series dives headfirst into one of Australia's most shocking deceptions — a story that began with a young Melbourne mum claiming she'd cured her terminal brain cancer through clean eating and alternative therapies, and ended with thousands of devastated followers learning it was all an elaborate hoax.

Watch the Apple Cider Vinegar trailer. Article continues after video.

While most Australians know the broad strokes of Gibson's spectacular fall from grace, Apple Cider Vinegar peels back layers we've never seen before, particularly through the character of Clive Rothwell (played with quiet intensity by Ashley Zukerman). Rothwell emerges as one of the most interesting people in Gibson's life — a man who financially supported her empire while remaining mysteriously in the background of her public persona.

Here's what we know about the real Clive Rothwell.

Was Clive Rothwell really Belle Gibson's partner?

He was indeed. But, as with the rest of Gibson's life… it's complicated.

While Gibson was busy building her wellness empire on Instagram, Rothwell remained very private about his life. As is the case in the Netflix show, Rothwell was reportedly an IT consultant in real life and did have a personal relationship with Gibson and her son, Oliver. But in one of the most bizarre twists of the whole saga, Gibson herself claimed during her 2019 court appearance that she had no idea what he actually did for work, as per The Age.

Rothwell was reportedly an IT consultant in real life, like in the show. Image: Netflix.

Gibson has always remained fairly tight-lipped about the nature of her relationship with Rothwell. However, in 2012, Gibson said that she and Clive had experienced a miscarriage, as was shown in the show.

"She becomes visibly upset when questioned about this and refuses to discuss it, other than to tearfully deny allegations it was another false health crisis," Woman's Day wrote in a 2015 interview with Gibson.

Chanelle McAuliffe was the whistleblower who confronted Belle Gibson, listen to her interview on True Crime Conversations. Story continues below. 

What did Clive Rothwell know?

The short answer is that Rothwell was not technically linked to any of Gibson's crimes.

Gibson even told Woman's Day about Rothwell's initial reaction to her lies being exposed, claiming he was "supportive, but obviously devastated".

"He's been very stern, along the lines of, 'I just want you to acknowledge where you've f**ked up and not try and smooth over that,'" she said.

Although Gibson claimed that Rothwell was not involved, in her 2019 court appearance, she dropped some serious financial bombshells about Clive Rothwell's role in her life.

Gibson was reportedly still living with Rothwell in 2019. Image: Facebook.

While being grilled about her expenses (and her failure to pay a $410,000 court fine), Gibson casually name-dropped how Rothwell had bankrolled her lavish lifestyle. We're talking an African holiday, footing the bill for her half of their $600-per-week rent, and — perhaps most shocking — thousands in legal fees when her empire began crumbling. In a letter Gibson wrote to the Department of Justice, she stated that she owed Rothwell $90,000.

Court documents also revealed that Rothwell was quietly involved in Gibson's business in the early days, registering The Whole Pantry's domain name back in 2013.

Where is Clive Rothwell now?

Similar to the portrayal in the series, Rothwell did seemingly stay with Gibson through her legal troubles, given they were still living together in 2019.

Currently, it still remains unclear whether Belle Gibson and Clive Rothwell are still together. However, images obtained by Daily Mail of Rothwell with another woman in 2023 sparked rumours that the two had broken up.

Feature Image: Netflix / Instagram/aprilbevin.