Fake Cancer Cure Blogger Faces Legal Action

A disgraced Australian blogger is facing legal action over "false claims" she made about having brain cancer and curing it through natural remedies.

Belle Gibson built a publishing and social media empire over claims she overcame the disease through nutrition and holistic medicines.

She launched a successful cookbook and smartphone app in 2013, but her lie began to unravel when it emerged she had failed to donate the profits to charity as promised.

Some of her friends also began to question publicly her diagnosis.

In an interview last year, Gibson admitted to making it up .

When asked by an Australian magazine whether she had ever had cancer, she replied: "No. None of it's true".

Consumer Affairs Victoria, which acts as the state’s consumer watchdog, says it has carried out "in-depth investigation" into her claims and has sought leave to take legal action in the Federal Court.

It says it is important that consumers receive only "verified information" when it comes to serious matters of health.

Penguin, which published The Whole Pantry cookbook, conceded it had never asked her to verify her claims.

It has agreed to make a donation to the consumer law fund.