The two young stars became household names on “Dawson’s Creek,” but behind the scenes, their connection ran deeper than fans realized. 

Now, a week after his demise, new details are shedding light on their quiet romance, the bond they carried for decades, and the emotional moments that followed before and after tragedy struck.

From the very beginning, James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes felt a natural connection. As a teenager, Holmes admitted that her bond with the actor on “Dawson’s Creek” in 1997 “just kind of happened.” 

According to her, they had a lot in common and had mutual feelings. At the time, a then 20-year-old Van Der Beek said they “just kind of clicked from the read through.” 

“We got really lucky I think because we met each other like two days before we started shooting,” he shared per the Daily Mail.

That spark quickly translated onscreen as Dawson Leery and Joey Potter when the hit teen drama launched in 1998. 

The show ran until 2003 and became one of the most popular series among teenage girls, averaging six million viewers. 

Fans were drawn to their love story, unaware that the chemistry they saw on screen reflected something very real behind the scenes.

While viewers watched their romance unfold on television, insiders now say James Van Der Beek and Katie Holmes briefly dated in secret. 

According to sources, they kept the relationship quiet while filming in Wilmington, North Carolina.

One insider told theDaily Mail that the actress has told close friends that James was her “teen love.” 

“James and Katie dated for a bit,” the source said. “They tried to keep their relationship secret but everyone on the set knew about it. Then news of them being a couple began to filter out.”

At the time, Holmes was a shy 19-year-old from Toledo, Ohio, adjusting to sudden fame. “Katie was a shy 19-year-old and James was just into his twenties,” the insider continued. “They didn’t want to talk about their love lives in public, so they decided to keep quiet about it.”

The cast had grown close during those early years. A second insider explained, “The set was high school for the cast. Everyone had crushes on each other, and everyone at one point or another would date and hookup. Katie and James had a brief fling with each other.”

The source added that the two realized quickly they were better as friends and never made it an issue whatsoever.

After the show ended, James and Holmes moved forward in very different ways. 

The 47-year-old later married Tom Cruise in a lavish ceremony in November 2006. 

Nearly six years later, she filed for divorce and was granted full custody of their now 19-year-old daughter, Suri Noelle.

James on the other hand married Heather McComb in 2003, the same year the show ended, before they divorced in 2010. 

He later married film producer Kimberly Van Der Beek. Together they share six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn, and Jeremiah.

The actor eventually left Los Angeles with his family for a quieter life in Texas. During that time, he experienced deep personal loss, including the death of his mother, Melinda Weber, in July 2020. 

Kimberly also endured multiple miscarriages, including two late-term. 

Family remained central to James’s life, even accompanying him while filming his final role in the upcoming horror movie “The Gates.”

Despite their different journeys, insiders say the bond between James Van Der Beek and Holmes never disappeared. 

One source shared that although they went on to have very different lives, Holmes admitted, “There would always be a strong bond between them. Especially for her as he was her teen love.”

In September 2025, much of the “Dawson’s Creek” cast reunited in New York City for a script reading benefiting F Cancer. 

The event was organized to support James after his 2023 diagnosis. Though he was expected to attend, he pulled out at the last minute due to a stomach virus. 

Instead, he sent a video message, while Lin-Manuel Miranda stepped in to read his role. His daughters also performed a sweet surprise solo tribute during the theme song singalong.

According to an insider, “Katie was upset she didn’t get to see James when the cast got together in New York last September for a special reading of the pilot episode.”

After the event, Holmes posted again, writing, “I will never find the words for what these three beautiful humans mean to me. For our shared journey. For our everlasting bond. James, Josh, Michelle… from April 1997 — I love you. James, you got this. We got you.”

Actress Rumer Willis is pushing back against criticism tied to her comments about life as a single mother. After receiving backlash from a social media post, she set the record straight and shared that she doesn’t get financial assistance, having to work multiple jobs to support her child.

On February 17, 37-year-old Willis took to Instagram and shared a post listing some of her activities as a single mom, adding the caption, “The todo list in [sic] never ending. I need a nap and a duvet day asap.”

Willis’ post appeared simple enough, offering a brief glimpse into her life. However, it quickly drew backlash from some social media users who posted rude comments on her post.

One commenter wrote, “Life is easy when you don’t have to work.” Another added, “She collects a big cheque every month. We are not the same.” Yet another wrote, “You may have your own struggles but money isn’t one of them. You have owned homes over $2,000,000 and your own mother owned multiple properties worth over $50,000,000…”

Willis felt the need to respond to her “uninformed” haters through an Instagram Stories post where she shared, “I work 4 different jobs to provide for my daughter. I am the sole provider for her.”

In addition, she said she doesn’t get financial assistance from her parents, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, nor does she live off a trust fund. In regard to raising her daughter, Willis said, “Most of the time I don’t have help with her. So how about y’all pause before you judge and assume.”

In a longer post, the actress opened up, writing, “I think there’s a misunderstanding about what I was actually saying.” Willis said she acknowledges and appreciates the privileges she has in life, and she’s aware that she may “never fully experience” some realities. However, her post was “not about privilege or comparing circumstances.”

“I don’t live my life treating family support as a backup plan,” she said, adding that she has also experienced “real financial stress and responsibility.”

In April 2023, Willis gave birth to her daughter, Louetta, with musician Derek Richard Thomas. In August 2024, the couple had split.

In an Instagram Stories post that same month, she said, “I am single momming it and coparenting. I’m so grateful for Lou. She is the best thing in my life and I’m forever grateful I was able to have the time in that relationship for her to come into my life.”

In her post on February 17, Willis shared that there were some years when she was the only provider for “multiple people” and added that work wasn’t consistent. “The idea that I don’t work or don’t understand financial pressure isn’t accurate,” she wrote.

Reiterating the point of her original post, she finished by saying, “I think there’s room for both compassion for what others face and honesty about our own lives without it becoming a competition.”

That wasn’t the first time the actress opened up about the hardships of being a single mom. As The Blast previously reported, she shared a video in November 2025, expressing her struggle.

In it, Willis was in tears, explaining that she had “a good cry in the woods” and telling her followers that there are days when doing everything alone could be overwhelming.

Despite the tears, Willis gave a small smile and a thumbs up to the camera, later reposting a quote that read, “I will succeed because I’m insane.”

Whoopi Goldberg is setting the record straight. During a recent episode of “The View,” the EGOT winner directly addressed her name being mentioned in the latest batch of Epstein files, making it clear that everything is not always what it seems.

Goldberg shut down allegations that she had a personal relationship with the late sex trafficker, as she provided a detailed explanation of why her name was included.

“Now, in the name of transparency, can you put up… my name is in the files,” the actress began during the “Hot Topics” section of the show, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Goldberg then explained that the reason her name is mentioned in emails between Jeffrey Epstein and an individual whose name has been redacted, was due to an attempt to find a private plane for her to travel to Julian Lennon’s charity event, the White Feather Foundation.

In the email, Epstein was asked if he wanted to offer his private plane, to which he responded, “No thanks,” co-host Sunny Hostin pointed out. Joy Behar then asked, “So, in other words, anyone can be on this list?”

Behar’s question prompted Goldberg to clarify that just because she was mentioned in the files does not mean she had a relationship with Epstein.

“This is my point because, when I tell you people are trying to turn me into…I wasn’t his girlfriend. I wasn’t his friend. I was not only too old, but it was at a time where this is just not…. You used to have to have facts before you said stuff,” Goldberg stated.

“I’m speaking about me because I’m getting dragged,” she revealed, regarding the online reaction she’s recently received.

“People actually believe that I was with him. It’s like, honey, come on,” Goldberg added. “Every man I’ve ever been with you’ve known about ‘em because either the ‘Enquirer’ wrote about it, people wrote about this stuff. And, no, I didn’t get on the plane.”

On the February 6, episode of “The View,” Goldberg did not hold back in holding women to task for not being proactive enough regarding Epstein’s crimes, per Entertainment Weekly.

“Not only did they protect each other, but we were complicit in all of this. We are complicit,” she said, prompting Behar to ask, “How?”

“I’m going to tell you how,” Goldberg began. “Women didn’t say, ‘Hey, don’t do that. Don’t stand up for that.’ Women did not stand up for other women. Women saw what was going on and didn’t say, ‘Stop this.’ They didn’t come out and say this was going on.”

Behar, still not understanding the correlation, asked, “What do you mean ‘we?’”

“I mean women. Listen, for years, men had the ability, men thought that it was okay to treat women this way,” Goldberg explained. “We see it on television all the time. And until we stand up, until women stand up and say, never again, not anymore.”

“Everybody has to take some responsibility for this, because unless you recognize what it meant, what they did to these girls, you’re not going to care,” she continued. “It’s important that you recognize what’s going on here.”

The list of notable names included in the latest release of the Epstein files include Donald Trump, Elon Musk, former President Bill Clinton, Jay-Z, Marilyn Monroe, Rihanna, Elvis, and billionaire Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Gates spoke out about his previous relationship with Epstein after the latest information was released.

In an exclusive interview with 9 News Australia, Gates addressed the claims in Epstein’s email that the billionaire contracted sexually transmitted diseases due to sexual encounters with women who were trafficked on Epstein’s infamous island.

“Apparently, Jeffrey wrote an email to himself. That email was never sent,” Gates told the outlet. “The email is false. I don’t know what his thinking was there. Was he trying to attack me in some way?”

Gates went on to express his “regret” for his relationship with Epstein, calling himself “foolish.”

“Every minute I spent with him, I regret, and I apologize that I did that,” Gates said in the interview that was released on Wednesday, February 4.

“The focus was always, he knew a lot of very rich people, and he was saying he could get them to give money to global health. In retrospect, that was a dead end. I was foolish to spend time with him. I was one of many people who regret ever knowing him.”

Gates also stressed that he never went to Epstein’s island and never had any contact with any women there.

“I never went to the island, I never met any women,” he told the outlet. “And so, the more that comes out, the more clear it’ll be that, although the time was a mistake, it had nothing to do with that kind of behavior.”

Miley Cyrus is set to deliver the best of both worlds this March as she joins Alex Cooper to commemorate the 20th anniversary of “Hannah Montana.”

After teasing a 20th anniversary special for the last few months, Miley Cyrus, in partnership with Disney Plus, will be featured in an extra special sit-down that’s said to include never-before-seen archival footage and potential performances of some of Hannah’s biggest hits.

Cyrus and Disney collaborated on a teaser for the upcoming special, effectively putting to rest rumors about Cyrus’s plans for the show’s massive milestone.

“Going back to where it all began,” the caption read. “The Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special premieres March 24 on Disney+.”

According to Deadline, the “Hannah Montana” special will be filmed in front of a live studio audience and will feature an exclusive interview with Alex Cooper, host of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast.

The special will reportedly feature “moments, music, and memories that defined an era.”

Viewers will also see “never-before-seen archival footage,” while other iconic moments from the show, including some of the series’ most memorable sets, will be brought back to life.

The celebration doesn’t end with a sit-down, as reports also indicate Cyrus is expected to take the stage for some performances of Hannah’s most iconic hits.

“Hannah Montana will always be a part of who I am. What started as a TV show became a shared experience that shaped my life and the lives of so many fans, and I’ll always be thankful for that connection,” Cyrus said. “The fact that it still means so much to people all these years later is something I’m very proud of. This ‘Hannahversary’ is my way of celebrating and thanking the fans who’ve stood by me for 20 years.”

The “Hannah Montana” special comes months after Cyrus revealed she planned to honor the show’s epic milestone.

According to The Blast, Cyrus recently dropped a series of throwback images from the “Hannah Montana” set, fueling speculation that a major announcement was imminent.

“Going through the archives… so many memories,” Cyrus captioned the post. “XoMC,” she added.

Cyrus’s return to Disney to reflect on her time as the everyday girl-turned-beloved pop star only seems fitting for the 33-year-old. In December 2025, Cyrus shot down the idea of someone else stepping into the role after so many years.

“I don’t know if there is a new Hannah,” the actress said. “This is the only Hannah.”

“For me, I love looking back at the growth for both of us because it’s very rare that someone grows up with their fanbase,” she added. “When I was 15 years old, I’d look out and see 15-year-olds and now I’m a grown woman, I look out and see other grown people. So what I want to do is honor the longevity of the relationship that we built.”

Cyrus led the series from its 2006 debut through 2011, during which she starred in 100 episodes, a feature film, and released five studio albums.

Cyrus also headlined the “Best of Both Worlds Tour,” performing songs from the singer’s first two albums, and grossed over $70 million over 71 shows.

With her upcoming album “Luck,” Hilary Duff is peeling back the curtain on some of her most personal chapters and explaining why now feels like the right time to confront those emotions publicly.

The “How I Met Your Father” alum has dropped songs with lyrics that appear to allude to broken relationships, sparking rumors about the real-life inspiration behind the music.

Duff has also found herself at the center of fresh controversy with Disney creators following Ashley Tisdale’s “toxic mom groups” drama.

In a new cover story, the “Lizzie McGuire” star confirmed that several tracks in her album address long-standing family tensions. She explained that the decision to speak about it came from a desire to be authentic at this stage of her career.

“That’s my family. Those are the people that affect you the most, take up the most space naturally as a human who’s born into something,” Duff told Glamour. “Just because you’re born into a family doesn’t mean that it always stays together. You can only control your side and your street.”

The 38-year-old appeared to address the track, “The Optimist,” where she sang, “I wish I could sleep on planes, and that my father would really love me,” explaining that her relationship with her parents is not rosy. 

 “I’ve had a very complicated life, and my parents had a very complicated thing,” she admitted. “I know it’s not rare, and I think it goes back to the theme of, ‘Why share now?’ I guess I just felt ready.”

Duff’s recent admission comes after weeks of speculation that her new album touches on a family rift.

Fans weighed in on the track “We Don’t Talk,” which she performed at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, as a reference to her fractured relationship with sister Haylie.

As The Blast reported, Duff delivered emotional lyrics that seemed to capture the unraveling of a sibling bond, which read, “Don’t know when it happened / Not even sure what it was about /’Cause we come from the same home, same blood.”

Elsewhere in the song, she belts: “And if it’s ’cause you’re jealous / God knows I would sell it all, then break you off the bigger half,” a line fans interpreted as addressing a long-standing rivalry.

Amid Hilary’s strained relationship with Haylie, her alleged involvement in a “toxic mom group” appears to be adding fuel to the feud, especially as Haylie seems to be siding against her.

The drama followed after Ashley Tisdale published an article in The Cut, narrating her experience in a mom group, which fans suspected Hilary, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor were part of. 

Soon after, The Blast reported that Haylie’s child was spotted spending time with Tisdale’s daughter, a moment Haylie shared on Instagram and Tisdale later reposted.

Before the playdate, Haylie had already shown support by liking Tisdale’s essay on Instagram.

Aside from addressing family tensions through her music, the “Cheaper by the Dozen” actress is also confronting chapters from her dating life.

Her track “Mature” offers an intimate look back at her rumored relationship with Joel Madden, which began when she was 16 and he was 25.

Duff revealed that the song was her way of reflecting on that period. “I was looking back on this relationship and thinking about whether this guy had a habit of dating younger women or whether I was special,” Duff explained, per The Blast. 

She described the process of writing the song as healing, allowing her to be vulnerable and explore conversations that often go unspoken.