James Van Der Beek's Merch Store Offers Limited Options After His Death

Fans criticize the store for "guilting" buyers during an already highly-funded campaign.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Before his death, actor James Van Der Beek was selling signed merchandise to fund his treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer. After his passing, his merch store is reportedly refusing to offer full refunds to fans who purchased the signed jerseys, which many have not received. The store is instead offering customers the option to receive an unsigned jersey with either a partial or no refund, with proceeds going to Van Der Beek's family.

Why it matters

Van Der Beek's family has already raised $2.7 million via GoFundMe to cover his treatment costs, leading some fans to criticize the merch store's limited refund options as "guilting" buyers during an already highly-funded campaign.

The details

Customers who ordered the signed jerseys were told it would take 10-12 weeks to receive their orders, with some still not receiving their purchases. In an alleged email, the store notified customers that their orders could no longer be fulfilled and offered two options: receive an unsigned jersey with a partial refund, or receive an unsigned jersey with no refund, with 100% of the proceeds going to Van Der Beek's wife and six children.

  • In November 2025, Van Der Beek announced he was selling signed and unsigned football jerseys inspired by his Varsity Blues character.
  • Van Der Beek was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023.

The players

James Van Der Beek

An actor who was selling signed merchandise to fund his treatment for stage 3 colorectal cancer before his death in February 2026 at the age of 48.

Kimberly Van Der Beek

James Van Der Beek's wife, who will receive the proceeds from the unsigned jersey sales.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges faced by fans and businesses when dealing with the aftermath of a celebrity's death, particularly when it comes to unfulfilled merchandise orders and balancing the needs of the family with the expectations of customers. It raises questions about how companies can handle such situations more sensitively in the future.