James Van Der Beek’s merchandise store is facing backlash after fans claimed they were denied full refunds for autographed items following the actor’s death.
In November 2025, Van Der Beek began selling signed and unsigned football jerseys inspired by his Varsity Blues character, Jonathan “Mox” Moxon. Proceeds from the sales were intended to help cover treatment costs after he was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer in August 2023. Customers who purchased signed jerseys were told they would receive them within 10 to 12 weeks.
Now, some buyers say their autographed jerseys never arrived. Screenshots of an email allegedly sent to customers began circulating online on February 18, stating that the store could no longer fulfill signed orders. Instead of offering full refunds, the message reportedly gave customers two choices: accept an unsigned jersey with a partial refund or accept an unsigned jersey with no refund, with proceeds going directly to Van Der Beek’s wife, Kimberly, and their six children.
The email also allegedly noted that issuing refunds would reduce the amount of money being sent to the family, thanking customers for their “understanding and generosity.” The wording sparked criticism online, with some Reddit users accusing the store of applying emotional pressure to discourage refund requests. Others pointed out that the Van Der Beek family had previously raised approximately $2.7 million through GoFundMe amid claims that cancer treatment had strained their finances. As of now, there has been no official public response from the family addressing the refund concerns.
