Family of Late Influencer Jade Kops Harassed by Followers Who 'Refuse to Accept No'

The family of influencer Jade Kops has been harassed by followers who cannot accept that they want no contact, police say.

Jade Kops died in April at age 19 from cancer and had shared her experience with hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. Her parents tell Dutch broadcaster Omroep West that they have received threatening messages from people who followed Jade online.

"These people simply cannot accept that we keep our distance and that we have no need for contact," says father René Kops. According to mother Wendy Kops, the threats are "sometimes so concrete that Jade's younger sister is too afraid to visit the grave." One message reportedly read: "Just watch out when you stand at her grave, I know where she is buried."

The police have conducted multiple so-called stop conversations - in-person meetings where an officer addresses someone over unwanted or criminal behaviour. The number of people involved has not been disclosed, but Wendy Kops says the conversations were "substantial." A neighbourhood officer recently visited the family at home to discuss how best to handle the situation.

The parents ask people to respect their boundaries. "I am glad they idolise our daughter. Wonderful, but only up to a certain point," René Kops said.

Jade had battled a rare form of cancer since age 14 and advocated for fellow patients. Thousands formed an honour guard at her funeral, and a bronze monument is planned in her hometown of 's-Gravenzande. A storm has also been named after her.