Several celebrities defended James Van Der Beek’s family fundraising campaign.
The widow of an actress has come under criticism. Photo from 2018. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Late American actress By James Van Der Beek widow Kimberly Van Der Beek has come under fire for a GoFundMe fundraising campaign set up for the family, reports US Weekly.
On the pages of the GoFundMe campaign, it is reported that the cancer treatments of the actor, known for the hit series Dawson’s Creek, left the family penniless. The donations are said to go towards living expenses, bills and the education of the family’s children. The youngest of the couple’s six children is only 4 years old and the oldest is 15 years old.
Numerous people have supported the GoFundMe campaign, which has so far collected more than 2 million dollars, or about 1.6 million euros. Among others, the film director Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw donated 25,000 dollars, or just over 21,000 euros, to the family.
James and Kimberly Van Der Beek photographed in 2019 at the continuation of the Golden Globe Awards. Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
However, some have questioned the family’s need for money, as James Van Der Beek once enjoyed success in Hollywood.
However, the actor revealed before his death that he received no residual income from his starring role on Dawson’s Creek due to a “bad deal” he signed.
Broadway star Donna Vivino, known for the musicals Wicked and Les Misérables, came to the defense of Kimberly Van Der Beek on the Instagram platform.
– For those who attack James Van Der Beek’s wife because of the GoFundMe campaign, I would like to tell you a few facts, the Wicked actor wrote in an Instagram post.
– They don’t own the farm they live on, they rent it. He didn’t live on residual income. Not everything is what it seems online.
Treatment is expensive in the United States
The musical actress reminded in her Instagram post that cancer treatment is expensive in the United States, even if the insurance is in order. Braunwyn Windham-Burke, known from OC’s perfect women reality series, comments on Vivino’s release with her own experience.
– Our family is drowning in medical debts because of my father’s cancer. My parents saved, worked hard and had a great retirement. It’s all gone, the reality TV star wrote.
Michelle Stafford from the series Emotions and Fragrances also told in an Instagram comment how her family had to struggle with the high costs of care.
– My father died at the end of the treatment. She had very good insurance, but a particular drug that wasn’t covered was costing $3,000 a month, Stafford says.
– The people who left disparaging comments just don’t know.
Also known for the Yellowstone television series Hassie Harrison expressed his support in the comment section of Vivino’s Instagram post.
– It’s heartbreaking that you even had to make this post. How can people be so rotten?, the Yellowstone actress replied to Vivino.
