Netflix made 'zero contact' with Aussie cancer scammer Belle Gibson for new series

Netflix has released a trailer for their highly-anticipated new Aussie series Apple Cider Vinegar, based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, about cancer scam artist Belle Gibson. The book is based on research on Belle by journalists Beau and Nick, who broke the story about Belle's lies. Now, a close friend of the scammer has revealed to Yahoo Lifestyle that Netflix didn't reach out to her at all.

Netflix describes the show as: "Set at the birth of Instagram, Apple Cider Vinegar, follows two young women who set out to cure their life-threatening illnesses through health and wellness, influencing their global online communities along the way. All of which would be incredibly inspiring if it were all true.

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"This is a true-ish story based on a lie, about the rise and fall of a wellness empire; the culture that built it up and the people who tore it down."

Belle created The Whole Pantry, an app and cookbook, and claimed to have beaten brain cancer through diet, exercise, natural medicine and alternative medicine therapies. She earned considerable money from the app and cookbook and promised to deliver a share of her profits to several charities. However, the money allegedly never made it to the charities, leading to people discovering the truth about her claims.

The series sees American star Kaitlyn Dever pull off an incredible Aussie accent as Belle Gibson, with Aussie actresses Aisha Dee and Alycia Debnam-Carey also starring in the show.

A close friend of Belle's tells Yahoo Lifestyle, "No one from Netflix had contacted Belle," adding, "Apple Cider Vinegar is being made with zero contact with Belle."

The friend adds that Belle "has told me she will not be watching the series prior to it being screened".

While Belle has told many people she won't watch the show, another source has shared, "Belle is very keen to see what they have done with the story."

Netflix has been very careful with the making of the show, ensuring they call it a "true-ish story based on a lie".

Everyone knows the story is about the scammer, and many believe Belle will be hoping Netflix crosses a line so she can make some profit out of the highly anticipated limited series.

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The insider adds that there is still an enormous debt in play after Belle was fined $410,000 for falsely proclaiming she had found a cure for her cancer-related illness.

"However, Netflix have crossed their T's and dotted their I's and don't believe Gibson will have a case against them," they say.

There is a huge expectation that Apple Cider Vinegar will reach the acclaim of Baby Reindeer and Inventing Anna.

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