A close friend of James Van Der Beek is pushing back against criticism of the late actor’s family over the launch of an online fundraiser aimed at covering their expenses following his death last week.
On Saturday, actor Mehcad Brooks issued a fiery response to a Threads user who questioned the Van Der Beek family’s motivations while sharing a screenshot of a TMZ article referring to their Texas ranch, reportedly situated on 36 acres and valued at about $4.7 million.
“I am one of the Van Der Beek’s closet friends and the headlines are fake AF you have no idea wtf you’re talking about,” Brooks, whose Hollywood credits include “Supergirl” and “Law & Order,” wrote. “You have no idea the pain they went through. It’s ok to stfu when you can’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“It’s ok not to try to seek attention off of other people’s suffering or the generosity in response to it. Because James touched them for decades,” he continued. “It’s ok for you to stay quiet in the face of blind stupidity, meanness and lack of empathy. But maybe you’re not okay.”
James Van Der Beek died Feb. 11 of colorectal cancer at age 48. The “Dawson’s Creek” actor went public with his cancer diagnosis in November 2024.
Immediately following James Van Der Beek’s death, family friends launched a GoFundMe campaign in support of his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, and their six children, who are “facing an uncertain future.”
“The costs of James’s medical care and the extended fight against cancer have left the family out of funds,” the campaign’s organizers wrote. “They are working hard to stay in their home and to ensure the children can continue their education and maintain some stability during this incredibly difficult time.”
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe had garnered more than $2.6 million in donations, including a reported $25,000 from director Steven Spielberg. At the same time, Kimberly Van Der Beek found herself on the receiving end of backlash online when it was reported that she and James Van Der Beek had purchased their ranch in January after renting the property since 2020.
A representative for James Van Der Beek shut down speculation on Saturday, telling People that the actor and his wife secured a down payment on the home “with the help of friends through a trust.”
Though James Van Der Beek had maintained a lower profile after sharing his cancer diagnosis, he continued to work, appearing on the Amazon Prime Video series “Overcompensating,” starring Benito Skinner, last year. His final on-screen appearance will be in “Elle,” the forthcoming “Legally Blonde” prequel series that’s being produced by Reese Witherspoon.
Still, the actor previously acknowledged receiving “almost nothing” in residuals from “Dawson’s Creek” and hinted at financial concerns in recent years. In November, he put a number of personal mementos, including props and costumes from “Dawson’s Creek” and the ’90s comedy-drama “Varsity Blues,” up for auction in order to pay for his medical expenses.
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