The grieving process for Dawson’s Creek icon James Van Der Beek just got a whole lot more complicated. While fans are still processing his passing at the age of 48, a paper trail of multimillion-dollar real estate and viral fundraisers has the internet doing some very public math.
Just weeks before he passed, Van Der Beek reportedly closed on a $4.7 million, 36-acre Texas ranch. But the plot thickened when a GoFundMe launched by his wife shortly after his death pulled in over $2.5 million.
“No one is questioning the grief,” one industry insider told Rob Shutter. “They’re questioning the money.”
The optic of a multimillion-dollar land followed by a multimillion-dollar plea for help is, to put it mildly, “messy.” As per the source, the family was tired of renting and wanted to build equity, with close friends reportedly pitching in for the down payment.
“They had support,” a source said. “Close friends helped them secure the house.”
Supporters are quick to point out that even for celebrities, the American healthcare system is a beast. “Assets don’t equal cash flow,” one insider explained. “Medical care at that level is expensive.”
Still, others aren’t buying the “broke” narrative.
“When you see a multimillion-dollar purchase and a multimillion-dollar fundraiser so close together, people are going to talk,” another source added.
While there are no allegations of actual wrongdoing, the court of public opinion is in session. “It’s the overlap that’s sparking conversation,” the insider noted.
