Latest news with #VarsityBlues'
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
James Van Der Beek reveals his Stage 3 colorectal cancer has affected his marriage: ‘I could not be a provider'
James Van Der Beek has opened up about the heartbreaking way his ongoing battle with Stage 3 colorectal cancer has affected his marriage – revealing the diagnosis has left him feeling like he cannot provide for his wife and six children. The 'Dawson's Creek' actor first announced his diagnosis in November 2024, and he discussed his shocking health battle further in an Instagram clip published Saturday after his 48th birthday. The video, titled 'What Cancer Taught Me,' began with Van Der Beek telling his more than 1.6 million followers how this past year 'has been the hardest of my life.' 'When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband and it was much better and then I became a father and that was the ultimate,' the 'Dawson's Creek' star said. 'All of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me,' he continued after explaining he was forced to be away from his family while undergoing treatment. 'I was away for treatment, so I could no longer be a husband who was helpful to my wife,' Van Der Beek said. 'I could no longer be a father who could pick up his kids and put them to bed and be there for them. I could not be a provider because I wasn't working.' 'I was faced with the question, 'If I am just a too-skinny, weak guy, alone in an apartment with cancer, what am I?'' However, the 'Varsity Blues' actor's worries were not long-lived because he ultimately turned to religion to help ease his troubled mind. 'I am worthy of God's love simply because I exist,' he said. 'And if I'm worthy of God's love, shouldn't I also be worthy of my own?' 'As I move through this healing portal toward recovery,' Van Der Beek continued, 'I wanted to share that with you because that revelation that came to me was in no small part to all the prayers and the love that had been directed toward me.' The ailing star then called on his millions of fans to follow the same message he shared – even if it felt 'too religious' for some. 'I certainly don't claim to know what God is or explain God, my efforts to connect to God are an ongoing process that is a constant unfolding mystery to me,' he noted. 'But, if it's a trigger that feels too religious, you can take the word God out in your mind and it can simply be 'I am worthy of love.' Because you are.' Van Der Beek married his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, in 2010 shortly after divorcing Heather McComb. The pair have daughters Olivia, Annabel, Emilia, and Gwendolyn, and sons Joshua and Jeremiah. He first announced his cancer diagnosis in a statement to People. 'I have colorectal cancer,' he said at the time. 'I've been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.' Van Der Beek added, 'There's reason for optimism, and I'm feeling good.' The 'Labor Day' actor also recently discussed his cancer battle in January in a post celebrating his father's birthday. Van Der Beek shared that his father has remained one of his strongest supporters amid his health woes. 'The way you have shown up when I've been down and out this year – without us having to ask, without the expectation of even a thank you… has been not just life-saving, but life affirming,' he wrote about his dad. 'I'm blown away by how you've been there for me emotionally as I've moved through everything cancer brings up,' the actor added. 'I know it's outside your comfort zone, but especially since Mom died, you have come through for me again and again and again in ways that I didn't even know how much I needed.' He also wrote: 'I feel so proud and lucky to have come from you. Thank you for being the best. Ever. Period.'
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Father sues USC, Netflix over Varsity Blues scandal after his conviction was overturned
A Massachusetts father who said he was falsely accused in the 'Varsity Blues' college admissions scandal is suing USC and Netflix over their alleged roles in his conviction which was later overturned. John Wilson, a former executive at Staples and Gap, was one of 33 parents who were charged in the 2019 bribery scandal that involved allegedly helping their children gain admittance to several top universities. In 2021, he was convicted of fraud, conspiracy and bribery before the charges were later dropped in 2023 after judges said the government failed to prove an 'overarching conspiracy' between Wilson and Rick Singer, the college counselor behind the admissions scheme who was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. Wilson said the case ruined his life and career while claiming the legal fees cost him his life savings. He filed a lawsuit against the University of Southern California for its alleged role in his wrongful conviction. He's also suing Netflix for defamation for what he described as an inaccurate depiction of him and his son in the film, 'Operation Varsity Blues.' He remembers the moment when his world was turned upside down as he arrived in Houston from an international business trip and was surrounded by FBI agents. 'They said, 'You're being arrested with like 50 other people and it's related to cheating on tests and bribing coaches and faking profiles,'' he told KTLA's Mary Beth McDade. 'I said, 'What? I didn't do any of that.'' The case quickly drew national media attention as several high-profile defendants such as actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, actress Felicity Huffman and more. However, Wilson said he had no reason to bribe anyone or cheat on any tests. He said his son, Johnny, had excellent test scores and was a nationally-ranked water polo player. 'I said, 'We went to USC. My son played on the USC team. We didn't do anything fake,' Wilson said. 'We gave money to the school. We got receipts from the school. We didn't cheat on any tests.' In 2010, Wilson had hired an L.A.-based independent college advisor named Rick Singer to tutor and advise his son on the USC college admissions process. Singer had come highly recommended to Wilson. When Singer recommended Wilson make a $100,000 donation to USC through Singer's charity, he checked with USC's assistant athletic director first. 'He verified that donating through Singer's organization was fine,' Wilson recalled. 'It had been done many times in the past and this was a common practice at USC.' USC later sent Wilson a thank you letter confirming they received the donation to the water polo team. His son went on to play for USC in 2014 as a freshman. But when Wilson was caught up with Singer's other clients, people who actually paid for falsified academic records or tests or made donations in exchange for admission, he said he wouldn't go down without a fight to clear his name. 'We didn't cheat on any tests,' he said. 'We made a donation to the school and got receipts. I was facing 180 years of prison time.' Wilson also alleges USC lied about his donation which prosecutors later claimed was a bribe. Prior to Wilson's trial, Netflix produced a documentary on the case, 'Operation Varsity Blues,' in which Wilson claims he and his children were falsely and negatively portrayed. 'They interspersed me so frequently that everyone assumed I had cheated on tests, that I had bribed coaches and that my children were all unqualified,' he said. 'None of that was true.' Wilson refused a plea deal, intent on proving his innocence and protecting his children's future. He was convicted at his first trial, but continued to fight and was exonerated on appeal with all the core convictions overturned. After Wilson said he spent his life savings on the case, he is suing USC for their alleged role in his wrongful conviction. 'I want USC to tell the truth and I want them to correct the record,' he said. 'I want them to address some of the financial hardships that they cost us.' For the Netflix documentary Wilson, filed a defamation lawsuit against the entertainment company. 'They smeared me and my son through innuendo and it was devastating because the broad reach that Netflix had was amazing,' he said. 'For Netflix, we're in the discovery phase,' said William Tanenbaum, Wilson's attorney. 'They filed a motion to dismiss. We were successful in opposing the motion to dismiss.' Wilson said he wants those who have harmed his family to be held accountable and he will continue to fight to clear his family's name. 'This has been the most devastating thing I've ever experienced in my life,' He said. 'You can't imagine what it's like seeing your children affected this way, your hard-working innocent children.' USC claims the lawsuit has no merit and university officials said they've made significant changes in their athletics admissions process since the case. Netflix did not provide a comment on the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
