Will Friedle Still 'Can't Stand' ThatBoy Meets WorldCostar Ben Savage Ghosted Him Years Ago: ‘He Just Bailed on Me'

Mar. 15, 2025

Will Friedle in 2022 (left); Ben Savage in 2016 (right).Photo:Mindy Small/Getty; Emma McIntyre/Getty

Mindy Small/Getty; Emma McIntyre/Getty

Will Friedle is still coming to terms with his changing relationship with Ben Savage.On the Feb. 24 episode of hisBoy Meets Worldrewatch podcastPod Meets World, Friedle, 48, and his cohosts Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong spoke to Maitland Ward, who played Rachel McGuire onBoy Meets World.Ward and Fishel got into a heated argumentabout their time on the show, Ward’s criticism of the podcast and their relationship. But during the discussion, Friedle also reflected on his relationship with Savage, 44, who played his on-screen little brother.The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 1994; from left: Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle and Rider Strong.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty“There’s a divide too because you guys hate Ben and you guys hate [Boy Meets Worldcreator Michael Jacobs],” Ward, 48, alleged during the episode.“I don’t hate Ben or Michael,” Friedle said, while Fishel, 43, added, “We absolutely do not hate either of them.” Ward allowed that “hate is a strong word.”Friedle went on to explain his perspective. “Ben is one of the most important people I’ve ever met in my life, and I can’t stand the fact that he won’t speak to us.” Fishel said she feels “exactly the same way.”“He won’t speak to us,” Friedle continued. “I can show you the last three years, literally, of messages. And in the middle of a conversation with Ben, he just bailed on me.” Ward admitted that she didn’t really know the “history.”The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 2000; from left: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Rider Strong, Maitland Ward, Matthew Lawrence and Ben Savage.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettySavage starred inBoy Meets World— which ran from 1993 to 2000 — as Cory Matthews. Friedle played older brother Eric, while Fishel played friend-turned-wife Topanga and Strong played best friend Shawn. Savage and Fishel reprised their roles in the sequel seriesGirl Meets World, which aired from 2014 to 2017. Friedle and Strong both appeared in the series as well.In 2023, the trio of podcast hostsrevealed that Savage had stopped speaking to themthree years earlier. “He just kind of disappeared from our lives,” Fishel toldVarietyat the time. She said it was particularly surprising because he had been so supportive of her in 2019 whenshe delivered her son early. “We were just so, so close, especially during that time. He was checking in with me regularly,” she said.“He ghosted us,” she said.The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 1995; from left: Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage and Will Friedle.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via GettyFriedle told the outlet it was a “sore subject” and that he had tried to contact Savage many times. “He disappeared — I wish I knew why, to this day,” he said. “We didn’t have a fight. There’s no falling out. There was no animosity.”Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Friedle said that at one point he called him every day for a month, but Savage never answered. “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,' " he said.Fishel said, “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.”Savage, who ran for Congress in 2023, has not commented on his relationship with his former castmates.He married Tessa Angermeier that same year, though it wasn’t clear if any of his costars were present.

Will Friedle is still coming to terms with his changing relationship with Ben Savage.

On the Feb. 24 episode of hisBoy Meets Worldrewatch podcastPod Meets World, Friedle, 48, and his cohosts Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong spoke to Maitland Ward, who played Rachel McGuire onBoy Meets World.Ward and Fishel got into a heated argumentabout their time on the show, Ward’s criticism of the podcast and their relationship. But during the discussion, Friedle also reflected on his relationship with Savage, 44, who played his on-screen little brother.

The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 1994; from left: Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage, Will Friedle and Rider Strong.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“There’s a divide too because you guys hate Ben and you guys hate [Boy Meets Worldcreator Michael Jacobs],” Ward, 48, alleged during the episode.

“I don’t hate Ben or Michael,” Friedle said, while Fishel, 43, added, “We absolutely do not hate either of them.” Ward allowed that “hate is a strong word.”

Friedle went on to explain his perspective. “Ben is one of the most important people I’ve ever met in my life, and I can’t stand the fact that he won’t speak to us.” Fishel said she feels “exactly the same way.”

“He won’t speak to us,” Friedle continued. “I can show you the last three years, literally, of messages. And in the middle of a conversation with Ben, he just bailed on me.” Ward admitted that she didn’t really know the “history.”

The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 2000; from left: Danielle Fishel, Will Friedle, Rider Strong, Maitland Ward, Matthew Lawrence and Ben Savage.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Savage starred inBoy Meets World— which ran from 1993 to 2000 — as Cory Matthews. Friedle played older brother Eric, while Fishel played friend-turned-wife Topanga and Strong played best friend Shawn. Savage and Fishel reprised their roles in the sequel seriesGirl Meets World, which aired from 2014 to 2017. Friedle and Strong both appeared in the series as well.

In 2023, the trio of podcast hostsrevealed that Savage had stopped speaking to themthree years earlier. “He just kind of disappeared from our lives,” Fishel toldVarietyat the time. She said it was particularly surprising because he had been so supportive of her in 2019 whenshe delivered her son early. “We were just so, so close, especially during that time. He was checking in with me regularly,” she said.

“He ghosted us,” she said.

The cast of ‘Boy Meets World’ in 1995; from left: Rider Strong, Danielle Fishel, Ben Savage and Will Friedle.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Friedle told the outlet it was a “sore subject” and that he had tried to contact Savage many times. “He disappeared — I wish I knew why, to this day,” he said. “We didn’t have a fight. There’s no falling out. There was no animosity.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Friedle said that at one point he called him every day for a month, but Savage never answered. “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,' " he said.

Fishel said, “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.”

Savage, who ran for Congress in 2023, has not commented on his relationship with his former castmates.He married Tessa Angermeier that same year, though it wasn’t clear if any of his costars were present.

source: people.com