Regrettably, many recollections of popular television series from our youth have been overshadowed by the realities of the past when viewed through the lens of contemporary perspectives. "Boy Meets World" stands out as another cherished sitcom from the 1990s that imparted numerous life lessons, yet the behind-the-scenes politics, cast disputes, and retrospective insights have left a somewhat sour impression.

In the February 24 episode of the "Pod Meets World" podcast, co-hosted by former "Boy Meets World" stars Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle, they welcomed their former co-star Maitland Ward. It is important to highlight that while the original trio remained integral cast members throughout Seasons 1 to 7 as Topanga Lawrence, Shawn Hunter, and Eric Matthews, Ward joined the series later in 1998, appearing in the final two seasons as Rachel McGuire.

Maitland Ward has since made a transition to the adult entertainment industry. During her guest appearance on the latest podcast episode, the hosts explored the history of her character on "Boy Meets World" and her subsequent move to OnlyFans and adult films. This conversation prompted Danielle Fishel to inquire about a rumoured conflict that may have caused Ward to distance herself from her colleagues during the production of the "Boy Meets World" spinoff, "Girl Meets World."

The Disney series ran for three seasons, featuring Fishel and Ben Savage at the forefront of a new generation of characters portrayed by Sabrina Carpenter and Rowan Blanchard. Rider Strong and Will Friedle made guest appearances, but Ward did not reprise her role.

Maitland Ward joins former Boy Meets World costars for rewatch podcast

Fishel inquired during the podcast, “Do you harbour any animosity towards us?” To which Ward responded, “No, I do not harbour any animosity towards you. However, I believe you may dislike me, as you chose not to communicate with me during Girl Meets World, and that was quite painful for me.”

In 2013, the actress-turned-adult film star shared a post from the set of the Disney show on her Instagram, despite her character not making a return. Ward reflected on their relationship during the spinoff, stating, “You seemed to have an attitude about it. There was some tension between us, and I was perplexed by it. I was unsure if you believed I was attempting to draw attention away from you… I was genuinely confused as to why we could not get along.”

Ward asserted that Fishel had removed her from her Facebook friends list, a realization she likely had in 2013 when she attempted to send a message through the social networking site. However, due to their lack of friendship, Danielle did not receive the message. The actress from Topanga clarified that her Facebook usage was minimal at that time, and she only became aware of the message in 2022 when Will Friedle inquired about her potential guest appearance on the podcast.

Danielle elaborated that when she requested Maitland Ward's phone number, she responded to Will by saying, "No, let’s just save it for the podcast," further noting that the Rachel actress suggested it would "rock the stats."

Ultimately, she participated in the rewatch podcast alongside her former co-stars years later, as her character had only made an appearance at the beginning of the sixth season.

Danielle Fishel apologised + foregrounds her difficult time on Girl Meets World

Fishel reflected on the challenges of working on the set of "Girl Meets World," stating to Ward, "To put it simply, the enjoyable memories we associate with the set of 'Boy Meets World' were not mirrored in our experiences on 'Girl Meets World.'"

Danielle later extended an apology to her in an effort to mend their relationship. "I approached it with certain expectations, which were not met. The environment was quite tumultuous. I often felt isolated and faced significant criticism. I experienced a range of emotions while working there... I regret that you believed I held any personal animosity towards you," she expressed.

Once the situation calmed, Fishel noted that Maitland had consistently criticized the cast during TMZ interviews “whenever the podcast garners media attention.” In response, Ward indicated that photographers had managed to find her on the street due to the ongoing fascination with the show. She then inquired, “Are you suggesting that I am exploiting you, or are you implying something else?”

Porn star Maitland Ward accuses the OG cast of hating the Boy Meets World creator

Ward also commented on the existing rift between herself and the other cast members, attributing it to their animosity towards Ben Savage and series creator Michael Jacobs. The co-hosts refuted these allegations.

Friedle, who portrayed Savage’s lifelong best friend, expressed, “Ben is one of the most significant individuals I have encountered in my life, and it deeply troubles me that he refuses to communicate with us. That is the reality: he will not engage with us.” He recounted a moment when he was texting Savage, stating that during their conversation, Savage abruptly ceased responding.

In spite of this clarification, Ward returned to the topic of her fellow cast members expressing “negative sentiments” towards Michael Jacobs. “Just because you documented your experiences in your book [2024's My Escape from Hollywood] does not imply they are negative; they are merely experiences... So, while you may not regularly listen to the podcast, your overall assessment is that we harbor negativity towards Michael, Ben, and the show?” Danielle defended their position.

Rider Strong stands firm on his sour experience

The situation appeared to spiral out of control once more as Maitland accused them of "grilling" her to enhance their ratings. In response, Fishel retorted that it was she who had kept her distance by refraining from discussing their relationship over the phone. Meanwhile, Rider Strong stood firm on their earlier statements regarding the creator of Boy Meets World. "If I am recounting instances of Michael yelling at me, that is my personal experience. I was indeed yelled at. I observed his actions. I can articulate that; it is the truth," he asserted.

As Ward noted that they owed their "careers and lives" to the series, Fishel inquired, "Is this the cost we must bear for that silence?"

The show concluded on a more subdued note, characterized by an exchange of apologies and compliments from both parties. Fishel even extended an invitation for Ward to return to the podcast to discuss a season 7 episode of the original series in the future.

It is important to consider that the perceived “divide” between Ward and the other cast members' recollections of Michael Jacobs stems from the different times they joined the series. While the current adult film star portrayed Rachel in her presumed twenties, the original main cast members were either teenagers or even younger, particularly in Fishel’s case.

The latest podcast episode, titled “Maitland Ward Meets World,” also included a disclaimer: “This episode contains adult language and subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.”

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