Where Adam Scott & Rider Strong Stand Years After Awkward Encounter

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There’s no need to call Mr. Feeny to help calm this drama.  

It turns out that Adam Scott has shared that he and Boy Meets World co-star Rider Strong, who is now 45 years old, have maintained a friendly relationship, more than thirty years since they experienced a strained interaction during the filming of the series.

Rider Strong, the person involved in an awkward encounter with, doesn’t seem to recall it at all,” Adam, known for his role as Griff Hawkins on ABC’s drama, clarified during the July 24 episode of Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast. “I had been harboring this memory for 30 years, since it was 1994. It’s amazing. I feel like we resolved it and put it to rest. I believe the issue has been settled.

To clarify, their uncomfortable dialogue can be traced back to the second season of the show. In a podcast called “Pod Meets World,” which brings together actors from “Boy Meets World,” including Rider (Shawn Hunter), Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews) in 2023, the 53-year-old revealed that he attempted to praise his co-star for their scenes together.

In the given episode, Scott remembered everyone getting excited and shouting, “I congratulate you with a high five and then move to hug you, but instead of reciprocating, you shove me aside and give me a look as if to say, ‘Hold on. Who are you exactly?’ And then, you hastily left.

Shocked at the revelation, Rider noted that he didn’t remember his negative reaction. 

He questioned seriously, as he tried to remember events from that day on the set. ‘What could have made me do such a thing?’ he wondered.

Even though there was said to be a chilly encounter, they put their differences aside during the “Pod Meets World” episode. Now, the star of Severance has admitted that his interaction with Rider left him feeling apprehensive about working with other actors after he departed from the show in 1995.

Adam shared on Awardist that it took him twenty years to conquer his fears. He now feels comfortable forming relationships within the industry, explaining that earlier, he was too overwhelmed by being on a movie or TV set due to his excitement. This made it hard for him to relax and not focus on all the extra details around him.

As Adam and Rider sorted out their disagreement, other conflicts continue to persist within the world of “Boy Meets World”. Stay tuned for additional co-star drama from the show…

In a 2025 episode of the podcast ‘Pod Meets World’, costars Danielle Fishel (Topanga) and Maitland Ward (Rachel) discussed an undercurrent of drama that wasn’t present in their show, ‘Boy Meets World’. The tension seemed to originate from a Facebook message Maitland sent Danielle in 2013, congratulating her on her engagement. However, Danielle claimed she didn’t see the message at the time. It was only when Maitland mentioned the message in media interviews years later that Danielle revisited her messages-finding it buried in a pile of old DMs.

Danielle recounted that she asked co-star and podcast co-host Will Friedle (Eric) for Maitland’s number to apologize, but Maitland didn’t want to have a private conversation at that time-with Maitland telling Will she would save the discussion for the podcast and “make waves”. However, Maitland stated that she didn’t wish to talk to Danielle because she felt her reaching out was insincere.

Among the evidence Maitland presented for this viewpoint: The fact that Danielle had unfriended her on Facebook, which Danielle asserted she “never intentionally” did.

In my role as a lifestyle expert, let me share some insights from a recent podcast conversation between Maitland Ward and Danielle Fishel. It seems there were some unresolved feelings when they reunited for ‘Girl Meets World’ in 2014. Maitland felt hurt that Danielle barely spoke to her after being invited to her 2006 wedding, while Danielle claimed they hadn’t interacted since the wedding.

Danielle mentioned she didn’t have any issues with Maitland at the time but admitted their work dynamic on ‘Girl Meets World’ wasn’t ideal, though she clarified it had nothing to do with Maitland personally. Interestingly, Maitland suggested that Danielle was resentful of the attention Maitland was receiving in the adult entertainment industry, a claim Danielle vehemently denied as she posed for ‘Maxim’ magazine in 2014.

Additionally, Maitland accused both Danielle and their co-host Rider Strong (Shawn) of being negative on the ‘Pod Meets World’ podcast and hating costars Ben Savage (Cory) and Michael Jacobs, though she later retracted this statement, claiming they merely had disagreements.

The podcast co-hosts made it clear that they did not harbor any hatred towards Ben or Michael, but were simply sharing their experiences from the show. When Maitland accused Danielle of stirring up conflict for ratings, Danielle swiftly dismissed this, stating it was Maitland who was capitalizing on this opportunity to generate press.

Danielle made it clear that she and Maitland don’t need to be friends, but stressed, “I don’t hate Maitland, not even the slightest.” This is a fascinating glimpse into their dynamic and offers valuable insights for anyone navigating complex friendships and work relationships.

14 years after the original series “Boy Meets World” concluded, Ben and Danielle returned to their roles as Cory and Topanga in the spin-off show “Girl Meets World”. This comedy series centered around their daughter Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and her friend Maya (Sabrina Carpenter), depicting their lives at home and school. The show aired on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017. However, Danielle shared on her podcast that the set was “extremely challenging”.

She expressed during the February 2025 episode of “Pod Meets World” that the excitement and enjoyment we associated with “Boy Meets World” were not replicated in “Girl Meets World”. It simply didn’t deliver what was expected. I had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, it fell short. The atmosphere on set was tense. I felt isolated, criticized, and experienced a range of negative emotions while working there. Disney was contacted for comment by TopMob News, but no response was received.

In the words of Mr. Feeny, friendship is a precious gift, shared without any expectation or requirement for gratitude – a bond between true friends. However, Danielle, Rider, and Will, once close with Ben, reported to Variety in June 2023 that they hadn’t heard from him in three years. In essence, Ben “ghosted” them.

Baffled as to why Ben cut off contact, Will admitted he still can’t fathom the reason. “I wish I knew why,” he said, “We didn’t have a quarrel, no falling out, no animosity. It was just one day, he decided he didn’t want me in his life anymore.”

Danielle expressed her desire for them to reconnect with Ben one day, stating, “Ben is one of the most significant people I’ve ever met, and I can’t stand that he won’t talk to us. But speaking for myself, Ben and I may be estranged now, but I will always love him and wish him well.”

“Ben is one of the most important people I’ve ever met in my life, and it pains me that he refuses to communicate with us.

In January 2020, actress Trina McGee (known as Angela on Boy Meets World) shared her experiences of disrespect she faced on set, including being referred to as Aunt Jemima. Later, she disclosed that it was Will who made the derogatory comment and he had apologized for it 22 years prior and again more recently in a lengthy letter.

In April 2020, Trina wrote on Instagram that this incident could serve as a learning experience for everyone. “Will apologized to me and I forgave him,” she continued. “I later apologized to him for making the matter public because his joke came from a lack of understanding, not malice, and he forgave me.”

Trina and Will ultimately moved past this incident and considered themselves friends. Will later explained on Pod Meets World in 2022 that at the time, he didn’t attach any cultural significance to the red headscarf Trina wore and thought his joke was just a harmless tease. However, when Trina informed him it wasn’t appropriate, he was mortified, acknowledging that such jokes can cause harm.

“You can’t casually make jokes thinking they’re funny without considering the potential hurt they may cause,” Will stated. “This experience changed my life.

During the podcast discussion, Trina and her co-stars clarified the reason behind Trina’s departure from Boy Meets World.

Trina appeared in a 2000 episode titled “Angela’s Ashes,” but she wasn’t present in the final episode of the series – a decision that Trina thought was made by the rest of the cast. She shared on the 2022 episode of Pod Meets World that this person, who she considered very important, told her in an odd, casual manner that the other actors had gone to Michael Jacobs and requested for her exclusion from the last episode. They apparently felt that Trina was somehow dimming their light and didn’t want her in the final episode.

This perceived competition, according to Trina, caused her distress for many years. However, Danielle, Will, and Rider denied ever having such a conversation, with Danielle swearing by her children and Will swearing by his marriage.

“I call that competitiveness. That’s not competitiveness to me; that’s sociopathy,” Will said in response to the rumor. “This really angers me.”

Trina eventually accepted their explanations, allowing them to make amends. She expressed, “Once it settles in your mind and then you stay quiet, the silence grows and then the whole image of it becomes larger than life and more significant than what it truly is.”

Later on, Trina said, “I like trusting you. It feels really good.

Danielle admitted her behavior towards Trina on the set of Girl Meets World was unkind. In a post from June 2020, she acknowledged that her frosty demeanor towards Trina during their time together on the show was indeed about her. They had a conversation and Trina graciously accepted Danielle’s apology.

Their working relationship was strained due to false rumors about Trina’s departure from the show. In a 2022 episode of Pod Meets World, Danielle explained that when Trina joined the cast, she had been under the impression for years that they were kept apart to prevent her from being in the series finale of Boy Meets World. This misunderstanding led to a chilly interaction between them.

After discussing their issues privately, Danielle reflected on how they could have spoken up earlier and supported each other during difficult times. She expressed that if only they had communicated sooner, they could have been sources of mutual support through various challenges over the past few years. For her, this experience underscores the importance of open dialogue and being willing to delve deep for the purpose of personal growth and improvement.

Following the departure of the original Topanga actress and Danielle’s casting, she underwent her first producer review and prepared for Michael’s feedback. According to Danielle, this occurred in front of everyone, and she became emotional during the process. Michael provided notes for all cast members except Danielle, who he planned to give all his feedback at once. He explained that if he went through all his notes with her, they would all be stuck there for hours, and no one would go home. Danielle and her mother then rehearsed extensively to perfect their lines, which she said was about making Michael happy. The next day, after the network run-through, Michael gave Danielle a standing ovation. However, Michael later stated that he was “sorry to hear those were her thoughts” and that “there was more” to the story. He also mentioned that while Danielle felt her job was threatened, it wasn’t by him but rather his attempt to save it. Michael continued to express his belief in Danielle during a 2023 episode of Reel Talker.

In the 2024 documentary titled “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” it emerged that Will and Rider were among various stars who wrote letters in support of dialogue coach Brian Peck, who was arrested in 2003 for allegations of “lewd acts with a child.” These charges stemmed from an LAPD report where the minor’s family stated that Peck had molested the child.

In the documentary, Drake Bell confessed to being the minor victim. Brian pleaded no contest and was found guilty of “lewd or lascivious acts” and oral copulation of a minor. He was subsequently sentenced to 16 months in prison.

In an episode of “Pod Meets World,” Will criticized Brian for trying to shift the blame, stating that he was making it seem as though it wasn’t his fault but the victim’s. Rider, on the other hand, said Brian admitted to one thing, but they were unaware of the full extent of the crimes for which he was convicted.

Both Will and Rider attended court proceedings in support of Brian. In an interview, Will reflected, “We were sitting in that courtroom, completely oblivious to everything-surrounded by child actors-when the victim’s mother turned to us and said, ‘Look at all the famous people you brought with you, and it doesn’t change what you did to my kid.’ I felt like I wanted to die, wondering, ‘What on earth am I doing here?'”

Since then, Drake has spoken to Will and Rider and forgiven them. In a subsequent podcast episode, Will shared that Drake told him, “Before you say a word, I want you to know I love you and I forgive you.

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2025-08-05 22:47