Ben Savage hasn’t spoken to his Boy Meets World co-stars in three years: ‘He ghosted us’
Child star-turned-politician Ben Savage hasn’t spoken to his longtime co-stars Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong in three years.
The foursome all got their big break starring in the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World, which ran for seven seasons (1993-2000) and its Disney Channel spin-off Girl Meets World, which ran for three seasons (2014-2017).
‘He ghosted us,’ Danielle told Variety on Wednesday. ‘He just kind of disappeared from our lives.’
The 42-year-old actress hasn’t seen the 42-year-old congressional candidate since he visited her in the NICU after her first child – son Adler Lawrence Karp – was born a month prematurely in June 2019.
‘We were just so, so close, especially during that time. He was checking in with me regularly,’ Fishel marveled.
Estranged! Child star-turned-politician Ben Savage (L, pictured in 2019) hasn’t spoken to his longtime co-stars (from L-R) Will Friedle, Danielle Fishel, and Rider Strong in three years
Over 30 years of friendship! The foursome all got their big break starring in the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World, which ran for seven seasons (1993-2000) and its Disney Channel spin-off Girl Meets World, which ran for three seasons (2014-2017)
Will – who played Ben’s onscreen big brother – insisted there was ‘no fight, falling out, or animosity’ before he ‘disappeared.’
‘I’ve known him since he was 11 years old, and we have a shared history. And we were doing these conventions together, and we were getting to know each other as adults, and then he just kind of went, “I’m done with you,”‘ the 46-year-old actor recalled.
‘I finally sent a text saying, “I’ve known you for 30 years, what’s going on?” I said, “I’m gonna call you every day until you tell me not to call you anymore.” That lasted about three weeks or a month, every single day.’
Friedle continued: ‘I tried and tried and tried for months, until finally my wife was like, “Why are you doing this to yourself? He obviously doesn’t want you in his life.”‘
Last year, Savage lost his election for the West Hollywood City Council, and he wed his girlfriend of four years – graphic designer Tessa Angermeier – in February.
On March 6, the Girl in the Shed actor announced that he wanted to replace Adam Schiff (who’s running for Senate) as the Democratic leader of California’s 30th congressional district.
Chicago-born Ben showed his support for the WGA strike on June 7 by picketing alongside Best Friends Whenever writer Steve Jarczak in Los Angeles.
Just two days later – Danielle, Will, and Rider joined their co-star Trina McGee to picket CBS Radford in Los Angeles where they gave a shout out to their onscreen mentor ‘Feeny’ played by 96-year-old William Daniels.
Fishel, Friedle, and Strong launched a successful Boy Meets World re-watch podcast called Pod Meets World, which Savage ‘very adamantly’ refused to go on.
‘If there’s anything this podcast has taught me, it’s that everyone is on their own journey and having their own experiences that can be perceived many different ways, depending on your POV,’ the Raven’s Home actress said.
‘Speaking for myself, Ben and I may be estranged right now and we may have our complaints about each other, but I will always love Ben and want what’s best for him. I don’t think this is the end of our story — but time will tell.’
Rider, Danielle, and Will kick off their seven-date Pod Meets World ‘The Kids Wanna Jump’ Tour on July 20 at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis.
The trio will also reunite with William Daniels, Bonnie Bartlett, Trina McGee, Betsy Randle, William Russ, Matthew Lawrence, and Lee Norris for That’s 4 Entertainment’s 90s Con Florida, which runs September 15-17 in Tampa.
Danielle (pictured Tuesday) told Variety on Wednesday: ‘He ghosted us…He just kind of disappeared from our lives’
‘We were just so, so close’: The 42-year-old actress hasn’t seen the 42-year-old congressional candidate since he visited her in the NICU after her first child – son Adler Lawrence Karp – was born a month prematurely in June 2019
‘I’ve known him since he was 11 years old, and we have a shared history’: Will – who played Ben’s onscreen big brother (R) – insisted there was ‘no fight, falling out, or animosity’ before he ‘disappeared’
The 46-year-old actor (pictured June 10) recalled: ‘I said, “I’m gonna call you every day until you tell me not to call you anymore.” That lasted about three weeks or a month, every single day…I tried and tried and tried for months, until finally my wife was like, “Why are you doing this to yourself? He obviously doesn’t want you in his life”‘
Life changes: Last year, Savage (pictured Monday) lost his election for the West Hollywood City Council, and he wed his girlfriend of four years – graphic designer Tessa Angermeier (R) – in February
‘Call your friends’: Fans of Ben Savage react to his castmates’ interview on his latest Instagram post
‘I’m running for Congress!’ On March 6, the Girl in the Shed actor announced that he wanted to replace Adam Schiff (who’s running for Senate) as the Democratic leader of California’s 30th congressional district
‘I support both SAG and the WGA’: Chicago-born Ben showed his support for the WGA strike on June 7 by picketing alongside Best Friends Whenever writer Steve Jarczak (R) in Los Angeles
Close cast: Just two days later – Danielle, Will, and Rider joined their co-star Trina McGee (L) to picket CBS Radford in Los Angeles where they gave a shout out to their onscreen mentor ‘Feeny’ played by 96-year-old William Daniels
‘I will always love Ben’: Strong, Friedle, and Fishel launched a successful Boy Meets World re-watch podcast called Pod Meets World, which Savage ‘very adamantly’ refused to go on (pictured June 10)
Hitting the road! Rider, Danielle, and Will kick off their seven-date Pod Meets World ‘The Kids Wanna Jump’ Tour on July 20 at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis
Convention coming! The trio will also reunite with William Daniels, Bonnie Bartlett, Trina McGee, Betsy Randle, William Russ, Matthew Lawrence, and Lee Norris for That’s 4 Entertainment’s 90s Con Florida, which runs September 15-17 in Tampa