Kesha remembered her late music video costar James Van Der Beek in a sweet way.
Kesha, 38, took to her Instagram Story on Wednesday, February 11, to share throwback photos of herself posing with Van Der Beek, who died earlier that day after a battle with stage III colorectal cancer.
In one photo, Kesha wrapped her arm around the late actor and smiled at him while he pointed at her. When fans swiped to the next snap, they saw the pair hugging.
“❤️,” she captioned the post.
Kesha and Van Der Beek, who died at age 48, previously starred together in her “Blow” music video, which premiered in 2011.
The music video opens with Kesha sipping a glass of champagne while talking to unicorns. Van Der Beek then enters and runs a comb through his hair before ripping his blazer off and dancing in the direction of Kesha.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t James Van Der Douche,” she says.
“I don’t appreciate you slander-beeking my name, Ke-dollar-sign-ha,” he shoots back.
After exchanging more quips, the duo hit the dance floor before the video ends with an all-out battle that leaves Van Der Beek dead — with his head mounted on a plaque.
Kesha’s tribute came after Van Der Beek’s family shared the news of his death via Instagram on Wednesday.
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning,” their statement read. “He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity, and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”
James and wife Kimberly Van Der Beek, who tied the knot in 2010, shared six kids: Olivia, 15, Joshua, 13, Annabel, 12, Emilia, 9, Gwendolyn, 7, and Jeremiah, 4.
The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday that Van Der Beek was pronounced dead at 6:44 a.m. A medical professional made the call to the examiner’s office.
The Dawson’s Creek alum announced in November 2024 that he had been diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer the year prior.
Last year, the actor was set to reunite with his Dawson’s Creek costars for a reading of the teen drama’s pilot, with ticket sales benefiting the F Cancer nonprofit organization. The day before the event, however, James dropped out, citing health struggles.
“This is the evening I’d been looking forward to MOST since my angel Michelle Williams said she was putting it together, way back in January,” he wrote via Instagram in September 2025. “So you can imagine how gutted I was when two stomach viruses conspired to knock me out of commission and keep me grounded at the worst possible moment.”
He added, “Despite every effort… I won’t get to be there. I won’t get to stand on that stage and thank every soul in the theater for showing up for me, and against cancer, when I needed it most.”
Some of James’ Dawson’s Creek costars were the first to offer their condolences on Wednesday, with Kerr Smith (Jack McPhee) sharing his reaction in the comments section of the post announcing his death.
“I’m so grateful for being able to call James a brother. I’ll miss him deeply. Rest easy,” wrote Smith, 53.
Creator Kevin Williamson, meanwhile offered a message of support for Kimberly, 44, and shared a link to the Van Der Beek family’s GoFundMe page, which has raised more than $1.7 million.
