James Van Der Beek Apologizes for Public Cancer Revelation
James Van Der Beek has apologized for sharing his wife Kimberly Brook's cancer diagnosis publicly, saying there is "no blueprint" for navigating such a difficult time.
The actor announced on Instagram in September that Brook had been diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer shortly after the birth of their sixth child. He has since been sharing updates on her condition and treatment.
However, in a recent interview with People, Van Der Beek said he realized he should have given Brook more time to process her diagnosis before going public.
"I know that I've been sharing a lot about Kimberly's journey, and I've been trying to be really sensitive to her privacy," he said. "But I also realize that I've been doing it in a way that's not 100% fair to her. She's still processing this herself, and I need to give her the space to do that."
A Difficult Decision
Van Der Beek said it was a difficult decision to make because he wanted to share the story to help others, but he also didn't want to exploit his wife's pain.
"Ultimately, I decided that I wanted to share our story because I think it's important for people to know that they're not alone," he said. "But I also want to make sure that I'm doing it in a way that's respectful of Kimberly's privacy."
Van Der Beek said he has since had a conversation with Brook about his decision, and she has forgiven him.
"She understands that I was trying to do what I thought was best, and she's grateful for the support we've received," he said.
Van Der Beek added that he will continue to share updates on Brook's condition, but he will do so in a more sensitive way.
"I'm still learning how to navigate all of this," he said. "But I'm committed to doing it in a way that honors Kimberly and our family."