James Van Der Beek‘s monetary scenario after his passing on February 11 set off a firestorm of controversy on the web.
The previous Dawson’s Creek star died of colorectal most cancers on the age of 48, abandoning his spouse Kimberly and 6 youngsters: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel Leah, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4. Instantly after his demise, a GoFundMe account was set as much as help the massive household with their “unsure future.”
“The prices of James’s medical care and the prolonged combat towards most cancers have left the household out of funds. They’re working onerous to remain of their dwelling and to make sure the youngsters can proceed their training and keep some stability throughout this extremely troublesome time,” the GoFundMe description reads.
James Van Der Beek at Prime Video’s “Overcompensating” premiere held on the Hollywood Palladium on Might 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Gilbert Flores/Selection
The funds had been to assist Kimberly and the youngsters “cowl important dwelling bills, pay payments, and help the youngsters’s training.” Inside a matter of days, the account raised over $2.6 million, with movie star pals, together with Steven Spielberg, Zoe Saldaña, and Busy Phillips, contributing to the fundraising marketing campaign.
Some feathers seemed to be ruffled when James’ consultant revealed to Folks on February 14 that the actor was capable of “safe a down cost for the Texas ranch that he and his household had beforehand been renting.”
His rep defined to the outlet, “James secured [a] down cost for the Texas ranch for the household with the assistance of pals via a belief so they may shift from hire to mortgage.”
The 36-acre ranch was bought on January 9 for $4.76 million — and that’s when the backlash started.
“Should not have had actual monetary points if taking up obligations of multi-million greenback property,” wrote one critic on X. One other added, “And the GoFundMe goes to pay for the remaining. Thoughts-boggling to me that common persons are donating for somebody to take care of their luxurious life-style.” A 3rd individual chimed in, “Nice, so his household doesn’t want donations from poor folks making 30k per yr?”
James was open about his wrestle to pay medical payments, even going so far as to unload his private memorabilia from Dawson’s Creek and Varsity Blues in November 2025. He raised over $47,000 via a Propstore public sale. The GoFundMe marketing campaign continues to be being funded as of February 16.
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