Boy Meets World Stars' Feud: The Drama Behind the Reunion

Just as Mr. Feeny from the show ‘Boy Meets World‘ once put it, “It’s not necessary to be related by blood to be considered family.” This is exactly the kind of connection the cast of this ’90s coming-of-age series developed. As Ben Savage, who played Cory Matthews, stated at a 2019 Fan Expo Boston panel with co-stars Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter), Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), William Daniels (Mr. Feeny) and Bonnie Bartlett (Dean Lila Bolander), they have known each other for so long that it feels like family. Over the seven seasons of their show and in the years since, “We’ve witnessed one another through various highs and lows,” Ben added. “And since we spent a lot of time together, I genuinely feel these are my siblings and friends.

For certain, the participants have shared numerous significant life events. For example, when Danielle tied the knot with Jensen Karp in 2018, it was like a mini “Boy Meets World” gathering at her wedding. Moreover, after her breast cancer diagnosis in the summer of 2024, she revealed to TopMob News that Will and Rider were among the first individuals she informed outside of her family.

The cast’s camaraderie was a hit among fans. Whether at a fan event or captured in an Instagram post showing William with his ‘favorite students,’ the sight of them gathering brought a flutter to millennials’ hearts. During the Fan Expo Boston panel, Ben explained, “As soon as we’re reunited, it’s like no time has passed.

At the moment, his former co-stars, such as Danielle, Will, and Rider, are still anticipating more interaction with him. In fact, during an episode of their podcast “Pod Meets World” on February 23, Danielle had a heated conversation with Maitland Ward (who portrayed Rachel for two seasons) about what Maitland referred to as “some disagreements.”

However, it’s possible that any lingering issues could be resolved, much like the endings of favorite TV shows. But, this would require effort on both sides.

Danielle noted at the 90s Con Tampa in September 2023 that, after spending so many years working together in various environments, there were disagreements, estrangements, and moments of reconciliation. However, she emphasized, despite needing space occasionally or taking long distances apart, we always seem to find our way back to each other.

And yet, she continued, there’s always space for a class reunion.

As an ardent admirer, I’d rephrase it like this: “When you truly invest in a bond and believe that it’s eternal, there’s an extraordinary transformation that occurs. We’ve grown, shown grace, forgiven, demonstrated compassion, and truly understood each other in ways we wouldn’t have if we’d given up and walked away. The commitment to this relationship has taught us a valuable lesson: it’s a journey of continuous learning and growth.

For enthusiasts of the TV show “Boy Meets World,” eager to understand the root causes of the long-running drama, learning time has officially begun!

At the moment, his former co-stars such as Danielle, Will, and Rider are yet to meet up with him for another get-together, as they’ve hinted at Ben avoiding them in recent times. On an episode of their podcast “Pod Meets World” on February 23rd, there was a tense conversation between Danielle and Maitland Ward (who portrayed Rachel for two seasons) regarding some ongoing issues that Maitland referred to as “some beef.”

However, it’s possible that any lingering disagreements could be resolved like a satisfying series finale. But achieving this would require effort from both sides.

In various work settings over the years, there have been disagreements, estrangements, and periods of tension, Danielle admitted at 90s Con Tampa in September 2023. However, despite these challenges, we’ve always managed to find our way back together due to circumstances that forced us to reunite. There have even been instances when we needed some distance or took long absences from each other.

And yet, she continued, there’s always space for a class reunion.

When one fully invests in a relationship and believes it’ll be an ongoing part of life, the actress explained, there’s a profound level of growth, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and understanding that results. This depth would have been missing had we chosen to end contact and move on. So, the value of maintaining relationships, I believe, is a lesson for all.

For enthusiasts of the show “Boy Meets World”, eager to delve deeper into the roots of the ongoing turmoil, it’s time to buckle up and get ready to learn, as the classroom doors are now open.

Despite not being a drama series, the podcast conversation between Boy Meets World costars Danielle Fishel (Topanga) and Maitland Ward (Rachel) was filled with dramatic moments. In an episode of Pod Meets World dated February 23, 2025, they discussed a Facebook message Maitland had sent to Danielle in 2013, congratulating her on her engagement to Tim Belusko and the Boy Meets World spin-off, Girl Meets World. However, Danielle claimed she didn’t see the message until years later when Maitland brought it up in the media.

Danielle recalled asking co-star and podcast co-host Will Friedle (Eric) for Maitland’s phone number to apologize, but Maitland declined a private conversation at that time. According to Maitland, she had planned to discuss the issue on the podcast instead, intending to “make waves” or “shake things up.” However, Maitland stated that she refused to speak with Danielle because she perceived her outreach as insincere.

Maitland also pointed out that Danielle had unfriended her on Facebook, something Danielle claimed was never intentional.

The situation didn’t stop there. In the podcast, Maitland expressed that her reunion with Danielle in 2014 for Girl Meets World was less than warm as Danielle barely spoke to her. This was upsetting for Maitland since she had invited Danielle to her 2006 wedding and considered them friends.

However, Danielle stated that there were no issues between them at the time, but they hadn’t interacted since the wedding. She also mentioned having some difficulties working on Girl Meets World, but made it clear this wasn’t directed towards Maitland.

Maitland alleged that Danielle was envious of the attention Maitland received in the adult entertainment industry at the time. Danielle refuted this claim, pointing out that she had posed for Maxim in 2014.

Moreover, Maitland accused Danielle, Will, and their cohost Rider Strong (Shawn) of being negative on Pod Meets World and harboring dislike for costar Ben Savage (Cory) and Boy Meets World creator Michael Jacobs. However, they later clarified that they didn’t hate Ben or Michael; they were merely sharing their experiences from the show.

In response to Maitland’s accusation that Danielle was trying to create drama for ratings, Danielle denied this, stating it was actually Maitland who was seeking attention through this opportunity.

Danielle emphasized that she and Maitland don’t need to be friends, but made it clear she doesn’t hold any animosity towards Maitland, not even the slightest.

In the fourteen years since “Boy Meets World” concluded, Ben and Danielle reappeared in their roles of Cory and Topanga for “Girl Meets World,” a humorous television series that chronicled their daughter Riley (Rowan Blanchard) and her friend Maya’s (Sabrina Carpenter) life experiences at home and school. This program aired on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017, but Danielle shared in her podcast that the production was particularly challenging.

In simpler terms, during an episode of “Pod Meets World” in February 2025, she expressed that the enjoyable experiences from “Boy Meets World” were not replicated in “Girl Meets World”. Despite her hopes and expectations, it fell short and was a challenging environment. She felt excluded, criticized, and experienced various negative emotions while working on that set. Disney was contacted for comment but did not respond.

In the spirit of Mr. Feeny’s wisdom, genuine friendships are precious gifts, shared without any conditions or expectations. Unfortunately, my dear friends Danielle, Rider, and Will have not had contact with Ben for three long years, as he seemingly vanished from their lives.

As Will explained to Variety in June 2023, they’re left guessing about the reason behind Ben’s mysterious disappearance. “I still can’t fathom why,” he shared, adding, “We didn’t have a fight, no falling out, no animosity – it was just as if one day he decided that I wasn’t part of his life anymore.”

Despite the long silence, Danielle maintains hope for their reunion. “Ben and I may be apart now, but I hold him dear in my heart,” she said. “I believe our story isn’t over yet – only time will tell.”

Ben hasn’t responded to our inquiries regarding his absence, but we continue to keep the faith that he’ll one day reconnect with us. As Will put it on Pod Meets World in February 2025, “Ben is someone I deeply care for and can’t bear the thought of him shutting me out.

In January 2020, Trina McGee (her character was Angela) openly discussed the disrespect she encountered during her time on “Boy Meets World”, including an instance where she was referred to as “Aunt Jemima” on set.

Later, she disclosed that Will, one of the main cast members, was responsible for the remark and that he apologized to her 22 years ago and again more recently in a three-page letter.

In April 2020, she shared on Instagram: “He wasn’t educated enough in his early twenties to understand he was truly offending me. THIS SHOULD AND COULD BE A TEACHING MOMENT FOR ALL.”

Eventually, Trina and Will resolved the issue. She explained that Will apologized for his actions, she forgave him, and they moved on. “Friends forgive each other,” she said.

Will later recounted the incident on “Pod Meets World” in 2022. He saw Trina leaving her dressing room wearing a large red headscarf and didn’t associate any cultural significance with it. Thinking he was joking as he often did with his co-stars, he decided to tease her about her red hat.

“That’s as far as my unenlightened, privileged mind saw it,” Will said. “So before I stepped onto the set, I walked by and said ‘love your syrup’ thinking I had made a humorous comment about her hat.”

Trina told Will the joke was inappropriate, and he felt mortified, acknowledging that such actions could cause harm. “You can’t just make jokes without considering the potential impact on others,” he said.

During the podcast discussion, Trina along with her co-stars clarified the reasons behind her departure from Boy Meets World.

Trina’s last appearance on the show was in an episode titled “Angela’s Ashes” back in 2000. However, she wasn’t a part of the series finale, which she believed was a decision made by the rest of the cast.

On the 2022 episode of Pod Meets World, Trina recalled being told by someone significant that the other actors had gone to Michael Jacobs and requested her exclusion from the final episode, implying that she was somehow dimming their light. This alleged remark left a lasting impact on her for years.

However, Danielle, Will, and Rider denied this conversation ever taking place. They insisted that it was not competitiveness but rather something more disturbing, with Danielle swearing by her children and Will swearing by his marriage to express their disbelief in the rumor.

“I’m sorry, you call that competitiveness. That’s not competitiveness to me. That’s sociopathy,” said Will, expressing his anger over the rumor. “This pisses me off.”

Trina accepted their explanations and they were able to reconcile.

“Once it sinks in and then you’re quiet,” she explained, “the silence grows and then the whole image of it becomes bigger than life and bigger than what it really is.”

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

Danielle has acknowledged her inappropriate behavior towards Trina during their time working together on “Girl Meets World”. In a post on X in June 2020, she admitted that her cold demeanor towards Trina was the subject of Trina’s tweet about frosty greetings. They spoke and Danielle received Trina’s forgiveness.

During their conversation, they discussed how they were often portrayed as rivals, particularly in relation to rumors surrounding Trina’s departure from the show. Danielle explained that by the time Trina joined “Girl Meets World”, she had been carrying misconceptions for 14 or 15 years about their supposed collaboration to keep Trina out of the series finale of “Boy Meets World”. This interaction with Trina, Danielle said, fueled the belief that she disliked Trina and was after her.

After they had a private conversation, Danielle reflected that if they had spoken sooner, they could have supported each other through their various challenges over the years. She emphasized that this experience underscores the importance of communication and being willing to delve deep for the sake of personal growth and improvement.

As the newcomer taking over Topanga’s role, I vividly remember my first producer run-through where Michael delivered his constructive criticism. On Pod Meets World in 2022, he shared that he would provide all my notes at once to save everyone time, as prolonging it would keep us all there for hours without a chance to go home.

Michael made this announcement in front of the entire cast, and I couldn’t help but feel a lump form in my throat. He went through each line with me and my mother, offering suggestions on areas I needed improvement, such as speaking more slowly. In recalling his words, I can still hear him saying, “If you don’t come back tomorrow doing this entirely differently, you won’t be here either—referencing the girl who was replaced by me.”

Determined to make Michael happy and secure my role, my mother and I rehearsed tirelessly until 3 or 4 a.m. every night. After the network run-through the following day, I received a standing ovation from Michael.

Reflecting on the situation in a 2023 episode of Reel Talker, Michael expressed his regret that I felt my job was threatened but clarified that it wasn’t by him. He stated that he was trying to save the role, which we ultimately achieved together. “She saved it,” he said.

Michael continued by expressing that he always believed in me and still does.

In the 2024 documentary titled “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV”, it was disclosed that Will and Rider were among several celebrities who penned letters in support of dialogue coach Brian Peck.

Brian Peck was taken into custody in 2003 for accusations of “lewd acts with a child,” as reported by the LAPD, adding “the minor’s family alleged that Peck had molested the child.” In the documentary, Drake Bell confessed he was the victim.

According to NBC News, Brian pleaded no contest and was found guilty of “lewd or lascivious acts” and oral copulation of a minor. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison.

In an episode of “Pod Meets World”, Will stated that Brian was “quickly shifting the blame” but “the fault lay with his victim.” Rider said Brian “admitted to one thing,” yet they were unaware of the full extent of the crimes for which Brian was convicted.

Will and Rider also attended court proceedings to support Brian. As Will recounted in another podcast, he and Rider found themselves in the wrong section of the courtroom, surrounded by child actors, when the victim’s mother remarked, “Look at all the famous people you brought with you, and it doesn’t change what you did to my kid.” Will expressed feeling ashamed and confused, stating, “I just wanted to disappear then, wondering ‘What on earth am I doing here?'”

Drake has since spoken to Will and Rider and offered his forgiveness. In a subsequent podcast episode, Will shared that Drake told him, “‘Before you speak, know this: I love you and I forgive you.’

2025-02-27 01:20

Boy Meets World Stars’ Feud: The Drama Behind the Reunion

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