The Real Reason James Van Der Beek's GoFundMe Is Under Fire

The tragic passing of actor James Van Der Beek (best known for his leading role in hit series "Dawson's Creek") on February 11, 2026, at age 48 due to colorectal cancer triggered a global outpour of tributes to the late star's memory and condolences for his family. However, the nice comments quickly turned to criticism when it was revealed a GoFundMe account had been set up for Van Der Beek's widow, with some taking to social media to call the move pathetic, greedy, and similar to Erika Kirk's controversial crowdfunding tactics. As of February 19, 2026, the fundraiser account titled Support for James Van Der Beek's Family has raised $2,700,000, far exceeding its set goal of $1,500,000.

It's not unheard of for celebrities to leave a high amount of debt after death, and Van Der Beek's supporters have explained that the crowdfunding campaign was set up due to the actor's finances declining later in life. Some have likewise called attention to the high cost of the American healthcare system and that setting up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover medical expenses has become common practice in the United States for many families. Even so, others have pointed out the family's relatively lavish lifestyle, recent property purchases, and excessive amount of funds raised as the real reasons for the backlash.

The Van Der Beek GoFundMe account states the money is intended to help the actor's family stay in their home after they "faced not only emotional challenges but also significant financial strain" while navigating the actor's cancer treatment. Van Der Beek publicly revealed his diagnosis in 2024. 

Though some critics have called out the Van Der Beeks as anti-vaxxers (Rolling Stone reported Kimberly Van Der Beek posting vaccine-related medical misinformation in 2022), the main focal point of the condemnation is the family's lifestyle expenses. The campaign says donations "will help cover essential living expenses, pay bills, and support the children's education," but Realtor.com revealed that the family purchased a $4.8 million ranch just a month before the actor's death. Instagram user el55tub86 echoed responses seen across the internet when they wrote, "My step dad has got terminal cancer and doesn't have a $4 million house to sell." 

Others have accused the family of living beyond their means in general and pointed out that the GoFundMe campaign appears to have been started by Kimberly Van Der Beek herself, contrasting reports that it was launched by friends. Nevertheless, not all responses have been negative. Some social media posts and opinion pieces have defended Van Der Beek's widow as now having six children to care for on her own, while various news articles have detailed the late actor's financial troubles (including not getting residuals from "Dawson's Creek") in recent years.

As stated earlier, the Van Der Beek fundraiser's initial goal was $1.5 million, though the total amount raised has now reached $2.7 million. This number is likely to continue increasing, as donations were still shown to be actively coming in as of February 19, 2026. While many have argued that this GoFundMe campaign should have never been started in the first place, social commentary on the amount it raised has also been highly critical. Many social media users are calling it off-putting, noting that the funds are higher than what most families going through similar circumstances receive. 

GoFundMe's annual Year in Help recap report for 2025 shows that medical, memorial, emergency, and family support campaigns were the most prevalent fundraiser categories of the year. It's well known that not being able to pay medical debt can be devastating for families, and an often-cited study published in the American Journal of Public Health states that medical and illness-related expenses are the leading cause of as many as 66.5% of bankruptcy filings. And yet, according to a 2025 report from ElectroIQ, the mean amount raised by a GoFundMe campaign is $2,500. Additionally, only 27% of all campaigns manage to achieve their funding target.