GoFundMe shuts down $200,000 fundraiser for Texas man

A GoFundMe campaign intended to assist 81-year-old Donald Johnson with his wife’s cancer treatment expenses has been shut down. The fundraiser, which had raised over $200,000, was deactivated by the platform after its Trust & Safety team identified “factual misrepresentations” that violated the site’s Terms of Service.

The campaign gained viral attention after resident Erin Howell captured video of Johnson, an independent contractor in The Colony, Texas, struggling to carry heavy luggage up stairs. Howell started the fundraiser to help the couple cover medical bills and living costs, noting that Johnson had taken the physically demanding job to support his wife, Josephine, during her battle with cancer.

Following the deactivation, GoFundMe stated that all donors would be refunded. A spokesperson emphasized that the action was taken to “protect donors’ generosity and our continued ability to support people who are fundraising to help others.”