James Van Der Beek's GoFundMe Faces Backlash Over Wife's Anti-Vaccine Views

Kimberly Van Der Beek's past support for anti-vaccination rhetoric sparks criticism of the $2.6M fundraiser for the late actor's family.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A GoFundMe campaign for the family of actor James Van Der Beek, who recently passed away from cancer, has faced online backlash after his wife Kimberly's past support for anti-vaccination views surfaced. Redditors and social media users have criticized the fundraiser, with some calling it "stupid" to donate to a celebrity's campaign when many ordinary people face similar struggles. Kimberly Van Der Beek was found to have liked a social media post by former President Donald Trump announcing a reduction in recommended childhood vaccinations, raising concerns about the family's stance on vaccines.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights the potential risks of public figures promoting misinformation or controversial views, which can impact their ability to receive support from the public, even in times of personal tragedy. It also raises questions about the appropriateness of high-profile fundraising campaigns when many non-celebrities face similar challenges without the same level of public attention and financial support.

The details

The GoFundMe campaign for the Van Der Beek family has raised over $2.6 million from more than 50,000 donations within a few days of James Van Der Beek's death. However, the fundraiser has received significant online criticism after Kimberly Van Der Beek's past support for anti-vaccination rhetoric was uncovered. Redditors found that Kimberly had liked a social media post by former President Donald Trump announcing a reduction in the number of recommended childhood vaccinations. This sparked concerns about the family's stance on vaccines, with some users suggesting they may have pursued "alternative treatments" for James' cancer. The controversy has led to broader discussions about the appropriateness of high-profile fundraising campaigns for celebrities compared to the struggles faced by ordinary people.

  • James Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • The GoFundMe campaign for the Van Der Beek family was launched shortly after James' death and has raised over $2.6 million in a few days.

The players

James Van Der Beek

A well-known actor who starred in the TV series Dawson's Creek and other projects. He passed away in February 2026 after a battle with cancer.

Kimberly Van Der Beek

The wife of James Van Der Beek, who has a history of promoting anti-vaccination rhetoric on social media, including liking a post by former President Donald Trump about reducing childhood vaccine recommendations.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States, who shared a social media post announcing a reduction in the number of recommended childhood vaccinations.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“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.”

— Mehcad Brooks, Actor (Threads)

“You have no idea the pain they went through. It's ok to stfu when you can't know what the f*** 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. It's ok for you to stay quiet in the face of blind stupidity, meanness and lack of empathy.”

— Mehcad Brooks, Actor (Threads)

What’s next

The controversy surrounding the Van Der Beek family's GoFundMe campaign is likely to continue, with further scrutiny of Kimberly Van Der Beek's past social media activity and potential impact on the public's willingness to support the fundraiser.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential risks for public figures in promoting controversial views, even unintentionally, and how that can undermine public trust and support, even in times of personal tragedy. It also raises broader questions about the appropriateness of high-profile fundraising campaigns for celebrities compared to the struggles faced by ordinary people.