Danielle Fishel: Getting To Know Her As A Woman Through Her Connections With Ben Savage, Trina McGee, And Maitland Ward – And What Each Friction Tells Us About The Other Person

Getting to write about Sabrina Carpenter’s age-gap friendship with Taylor Swift, and then mentioning Danielle Fishel in the mix, made me think long and hard about the relationships and friendships surrounding the entire cast of ‘Boy Meets World’. We already mentioned that Fishel is very good friends since they starred together in the spinoff series, ‘Girl Meets World’. Since 2022, Fishel has hosted ‘Pod Meets World’, a re-watch series co-hosted by Rider Strong and Will Friedle. Strong played Sean Hunter, and Friedle played Eric Matthews in the original series. Fishel played Topanga Lawrence.

So it’s clear as night and day that the trio have maintained a very good friendship in the years since their days on the beloved sitcom ended. The same couldn’t be said, however, for the rest of the cast as in recent months, as they opened up on their podcast, a lot has come to light on relationships with their former co-stars, including ones with Ben Savage, who played Cory Matthews, Trina McGee, who played Angela Moore, and Maitland Ward, who played Rachel McGuire. Let’s just say that if the friendship dynamics were a Facebook status, they’d all be set to ‘It’s Complicated’.

In 2023, while making an appearance at 90’s Con, Fishel, as well as her former co-stars, opened up about their strained relationship with Savage, which came out of nowhere, at least to them. Friedle said to Variety at the time, ‘We didn’t have a fight. There’s no falling out. There was no animosity. He just woke up one day and decided ‘I don’t want this person in my life anymore.’’ Fishel opened up further at the event itself, ‘Over this many years and this much time together in different work atmospheres, you have fights, you have falling outs, you have moments where you come back together. Because we are constantly put back together, there have been times where we’ve needed space from each other, and we’ve taken long distances. Yet, when you really commit to a relationship, when you really commit to this idea that we are always going to be in each other’s lives, the amount of growth and grace and forgiveness and compassion and true knowing of each other that we now have — that we never would have had had we written each other off and said ‘I’m done with you, I don’t want to see you again.’ So, like, that commitment to a relationship is such a lesson for everybody.’ She also added that it was a confusing time for her, as Savage showed her the utmost amount of support after she’d delivered her son early in 2019. She said, ‘We were just so, so close, especially during that time. He was checking in with me regularly.’

In February 2025, the trio gave an update on their relationship with Savage. Friedle, in particular, voiced his heartbreak. He said, ‘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 agreed with him, and then he continued, ‘He won’t speak to us.  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.’ When he first opened up about the falling out, the actor said that at one point he called him every day for a month, but Savage never answered. He added, ‘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.’’ Fishel added to his testimony, ‘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 (Point Of View).’

The same episode where the trio gave an update on the status of their respective friendships with Savage featured their former co-star, Maitland Ward. Ward didn’t have much to say about Savage throughout the episode, as, in her own words, she didn’t know the trio’s history with him. And yet, she had A LOT to say about her relationship with Fishel – during on time on the show, which originally aired between 1993 and 2000, and after. Ward claimed that Fishel ignored her on the ‘Girl Meets World’ set and unfriended her on Facebook, feeling hurt by both incident. In turn, Fishel denied the claims, saying she did talk to Ward and that she didn’t remember unfriending her on Facebook. In Ward’s perspective, Fishel’s behavior stemmed from jealousy, citing her own transition into the adult entertainment industry and the attention it garnered. 

The initial conversation started about an hour into the episode when Fishel bluntly asked Ward, ‘Do you hate us?’ This also wasn’t the first time Ward talked about her alleged one-sided feud with Fishel, one that Fishel knew nothing about to begin with. In her 2022 book, ‘Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood’, as well as interviews, Ward has been candid of their relationship. She previously told TMZ, ‘Danielle does not like me. I think it has to do with the sexier stuff. Ward also recalled of the time she realized she was no longer friends with Fishel. It was 2013, when Fishel was about to get married to Tim Belusko. Ward said, ‘I wrote her a note to say congratulations, you’re gonna be beautiful. She didn’t respond to it.’

Fishel didn’t appreciate Ward airing out their grievances so publicly when it should’ve really been a private matter. She said on the podcast, ‘To me, this felt like an opportunity for her to get press by having conflict. I am just not your girl to do that.’ She also said Ward turned down her offer for a private conversation in favour of a public confrontation. While appearing on Too Fab after the podcast episode aired, Ward said of everything that had happened, ‘I’m just surprised by the whole situation. I did not come on that show to create controversy. I thought like any problems we had, we would talk in a conversational way, so I wasn’t expecting such a jarring shift.’

This leads me to discuss Trina McGee, who certainly had a choice of words following the episode’s release. She wrote on her Instagram page, ‘I have never been more proud of @daniellefish in the second half of that show. Speaking clearly and holding her ground is the way I like to handle my business also. That’s why I do frrrruvks with her. Supporting people doesn’t always mean their character will align with yours. Sometimes, the ones you uplift only care about their own agenda. They start unnecessary drama, not for truth, but for attention-media chasers, energy usurpers. Instead of riding with you, they’d rather take the plane down just to make themselves look like the hero in the wreckage. They lie on you when you’re at your lowest, just for the scent of a dollar. It’s a hard lesson, but one I’ve learned well. And through it, I’ve grown. Now, I look deeper at the purpose behind my support. Healing, not chaos. Elevation, not destruction. Real ones move with integrity. The rest expose themselves.’ To which Fishel commented, ‘Wow, thank you Trina. We have been through a lot, both together and apart, and we’ve come out the other side so much better because of it. I love you.’

It’s a lot of information here for you to digest, and it’s not even the end of the story. McGee, who’s of African-American descent, too previously appeared on ‘Pod Meets World’, where she revealed she was told by TV execs some not so pleasant things about her White co-stars. She said, ‘I was told, in kind of a weird, off-handed way by a very important person that you guys all went to [showrunner] Michael Jacobs, and you said, ‘We don’t want her in the last episode. She’s somehow taking our light,’ was the gist of it. That was really hurtful to me for a long time.’

The trio was absolutely shocked by the revelation, and wholeheartedly denied that these occurrences ever happened. In fact, they never even spoke to Jacobs about McGee’s role to begin with. Friedle said, ‘Can we say for the record, Trina, that never happened. That’s not competitiveness, that’s sociopathy. This pisses me off. This is next level.’ McGee said that she was made to believe the lie as there was some tension between herself and her co-stars, including Fishel. She also admitted that she regretted not believing Fishel as they could’ve been allies. Fishel agreed and said, ‘We could’ve helped each other.’ McGee also buried the hatchet with Friedle, who admitted to making a racially insensitive joke at the time of filming when he joked that she looked like Aunt Jemima. McGee also apologized to him for making the matter public, as the joke wasn’t made out of viciousness, but rather not knowing.

This is very important. And by no means am I diminishing Will Friedle’s apology for his racist remarks. After all it WAS the 90’s when the incident occurred. In this particular case, however, I’m talking about Danielle Fishel’s newfound connection with Trina McGee. It’s significant because it demonstrates the power of acknowledging past mistakes and working towards reconciliation, which is much more than I could ever say about Maitland Ward and her intentions. Her one and only obvious intent was to stay relevant in the media. If she did actually want to reconcile with Fishel, she would’ve accepted that private phone call. But she didn’t… she chose to make their private matters public. I don’t even think she wanted a friendship to begin with.

Fishel and McGee’s initial strained relationship, on the other hand, which stemmed from rumors and misunderstandings, eventually led to a deeper understanding and stronger bond. Danielle apologized for her past behavior, and Trina has acknowledged the positive changes in their relationship. This highlights the importance of open communication and forgiveness in building healthy friendships. It was very clear that McGee’s intention on the podcast was to clear the air between her and her co-stars; even if it was made publicly. There was just something different in how her appearance on the podcast was perceived – at least by me. But even more so, their conversation gave an insight to the complexity of female friendships in the following ways:

• Acknowledge Past Mistakes: Danielle publicly acknowledged her negative behavior towards Trina during her guest appearance on Girl Meets World, specifically addressing Trina’s tweet about being met with cold stares, according to E! News. This showed a willingness to take responsibility and improve the dynamic. 
• Open Communication: They had an open and honest conversation, addressing the rumors and misunderstandings that had been fueling the tension for years. This dialogue allowed them to see each other’s perspectives and gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. 
• Forgiveness and Growth: Trina has expressed that she appreciates Danielle’s apology and the effort she has made to move forward. This demonstrates the potential for healing and growth after a period of difficulty. 
• Positive Example for Others: Their journey, from initial tension to a stronger friendship, serves as a positive example of how relationships can be rebuilt and how difficult conversations can lead to deeper connection, according to E! News. 
• Rebuilding Trust: Trina has stated that she is slowly building trust with Danielle and that they are now on good terms, according to Cosmopolitan. This highlights the importance of consistent effort in rebuilding trust after a breakdown in a relationship. 

I was actually VERY wrong in my previous testament. Dianielle Fishel’s public reconciliation was very much different than the one she had with Maitland Ward, and it’s that she actually privately talked things through with McGee and reconciled with her before they recorded their episode on the podcast. In 2020, Fishel wrote on X, previously known as Twitter, ‘I owed @realtrinamcgee an apology for being rude, cold & distant when she guest starred on GMW (her tweet regarding warm hellos being met with cold blank stares was about me). Trina and I spoke over a month ago and she gracefully accepted my apology.’ She then talked more about it in the 2022 episode of the podcast. She said, ‘By the time you came to ‘Girl Meets World’, you had had 14 or 15 years of believing we got together to keep you from being in the series finale of ‘Boy Meets World’ and then the interaction you have with me is very cold. How could you not walk away thinking, ‘She hates me. She’s after me. We’re always in competition. We will always be in competition.’ We could have been there for each other the way we’ve been there for each other through multiple hardships over the last several years. So that, for me, is the biggest lesson and the importance of talking and being willing to dig deep for the same purpose, which is growing and becoming better people and doing better.’

I’m probably being too repetitive here in this particular blog entry. But I just can’t help myself. I can’t emphasize enough what a great person, woman, and friend Danielle Fishel is. She’s the epiphany of a female friend; one that every woman in the world would want. I sure know I’d want her as a friend; a friend who’s empathetic, but also a friend who, by no means, doesn’t take anyone’s bullsh*t; one that’s honest and open about her own experiences of hardships; one that admits to and learns from her mistakes; one that inspires others to be the best versions of themselves.

Of course, being that Fishel is such good friends with Sabrina Carpenter, I wonder if she’ll ever have the younger starlet on the podcast. Given that Carpenter never appeared on ‘Boy Meets World’, and wasn’t even born yet when the show first aired, it’s highly unlikely. Maybe if Fishel does rewatch episodes of ‘Girl Meets World’, she’ll include Carpenter. For now, however, it’s just a waiting game. I know in my previous blog entry on Carpenter and her friendship with Taylor Swift, I merely mentioned her friendship with Fishel, as if it were only a traffic stop in passing. But, in reality, their friendship means so much more than that, and it deserves a more thorough exploration.

The duo first met when they co-starred together in ‘Boy Meets World’ spinoff series, ‘Girl Meets World’, in 2014. Carpenter played Maya Hart, the best friend of Fishel and Ben Savage’s teenage daughter, on the Disney Channel series between 2014 and 2017. To this very day, even though they 18 years apart in age, Fishel and Carpenter have maintained their close bond. In 2018, Carpenter served as a bridesmaid at Fishel’s wedding to Jensen Karp. When her son was born in 2019, Fishel revealed that Carpenter would be known as his ‘auntie’. Fishel has also been Carpenter’s biggest cheerleader throughout her music career, like when she celebrated her successes like landing on the Billboard Top 10 with ‘Espresso’. In 2024, Fishel travelled to New York specifically to support Carpenter’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut. Both women have publicly expressed their admiration and love for each other, further solidifying their bond. Fishel’s role extends beyond friendship to mentorship, offering guidance and advice, just as a parent would. And just as any daughter, Carpenter doesn’t always listen; like when she didn’t listen when Fishel told her she shouldn’t include one of her songs in the 2022 album, ‘Emails I Can’t Send’, which turned out to be a massive hit. Fishel wrote in a piece for Entertainment Weekly, ‘Her instinct cannot be beat. I once told her I didn’t think a song should make it on her 2022 album, ‘Emails I Can’t Send’. I thought it wasn’t relatable enough, and she politely told me I was wrong. This past November, as I heard 20,000 fans in the Crypto.com arena sing every word to that exact song right along with her, I knew she was right. She’s always right.’

Fishel can be described as a good friend for more reasons than one. She’s authentic, has a positive outlook on life, is very much family-oriented just as she is career oriented, and has a willingness to share her own personal journey, including her recent breast cancer diagnosis, to inspire others. She’s not afraid to uses her platform to inspire and support others, particularly in the face of adversity. But if we were to look at her essence more thoroughly:

• Warm and Relatable: Fans often find her relatable due to her open and honest portrayal of real-life experiences, including her own struggles with motherhood and health. 
• Positive and Inspiring: She is known for her positive attitude, even when facing challenges, and her ability to find the good in every situation. 
• Family-Oriented: Fishel’s strong sense of family is evident in her dedication to her children and her husband, Jensen Karp. She frequently shares her love for her family and how they inspire her. 
• Authentic and Vulnerable: She is willing to share her personal story, including her breast cancer journey, to help others and create a sense of community. 
• Hardworking and Driven: Fishel is not only an actress but also a podcaster, a director, and a producer, demonstrating her ambition and dedication to her career. 
• Empathetic and Caring: She uses her platform to raise awareness about important issues, such as breast cancer, and to encourage others to prioritize their health. 
• Reflective and Insightful: Fishel’s reflections on her experiences, especially on motherhood and her career, offer valuable insights for others. 

Not in the slightest do I believe that Fishel was ever jealous of Maitland Ward’s career as a pot star. And that’s not to shame her career choice. She retired from Hollywood in 2007, and has exclusively appeared in adult films for the past six years. She recently opened up about feeling empowered by her choice of career, and that’s absolutely wonderful for her. In a Fox New Digital interview, she said, ‘I really think people treat me with more respect now, honestly, especially even in Hollywood right now. I’m pitching my memoir into a TV format and talking with people. They’re so respectful, and they’re so positive about my story, especially younger people and different people that I speak to in Hollywood and stuff. They’re just much more receptive to the story. I’m able to create my own brand, my own content, the way I want to create it.’

And again, as I said before, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a woman choosing to be an open star for a career path. If Maitland Ward feels that she found her calling in her new career choice, then it’s wonderful for her. But why in the world would she ever believe that Fishel was jealous of her in the first place? Fishel never described herself as ever being unhappy in her life; not personally nor professionally. In fact, I think it’s the opposite. I think it’s Maitland Ward that’s jealous of Danelle Fishel, and she’s too embarrassed and self-conscious to admit it – to the public, as well as to her own self. It just seems so funny to me that a 48 year old woman would label her friendship with another woman and base it off of whether or not she has her on her Facebook list. I unfriended one of my best friends on Facebook, and we still laugh about it. And yet, here’s Maitland Ward whining about it. I also don’t always get invited to my friends’ gatherings, but I don’t assume that my friendships are over with them because of it. Maybe I did when I was a teenager, but definitely not in my adult years.

There are several signs of jealousy that any woman out there should look out for when thinking about who she surrounds herself with. These include that she’s condescending towards you, that she downplays your success, that she gossips about you behind your back, that she brags about her successes, that she avoids gatherings in your honor, that she praises you, but when she can benefit from it, that she drops hints on social media, or that you received more recognition in her field of study or career. These are all the signs of jealousy that Maitland Ward publicly showcased towards Fishel throughout the years, and it’s honestly just pathetic.

And I can’t say that her story is a ‘success story’ either. In the eyes of journalism, ‘her world wouldn’t let her control her own life. And leaving that world behind would bring her something better.’ So you’re telling me that adult movies help young women to develop and grow their potential? That’s a sick message! Isn’t that what they say to women that can’t act well. That they should just do adult movies. There’s no shame in not being a good actress. There’s no shame in quitting doing something the universe is telling you you’re not good at. But there’s also no need to belittle another woman who’s still very much in the industry you once were a part of. And let’s not forget the real history of the porn industry. It’s filled with people who destroyed their lives with drugs and suicides. I hope she avoids some tragic fate.

Hearing about Ben Savage ending his friendships so suddenly and without explanation was saddening. It was especially sad to hear that he ended his friendship with Danielle Fishel after being so kind to and supportive of her postpartum. I was just about to write that I couldn’t imagine the confusion Fishel must’ve felt at the time, but I could. I could do so because the same exact thing happened to me when I was postpartum. I had a girlfriend who was so kind and supportive of me during my pregnancy and first year postpartum, and then suddenly, she slowly, and yet very surely, disappeared from my life without an explanation. I still don’t know why she suddenly stopped talking to me. This was a person that was in my life for 13 years. This was a person that labeled me, as well as my husband and son to be family. This was a person that was supposed to be an ‘auntie’ to my son.

But this happening to me was a big lesson for me to learn, which is that you can never control what other people think of you and whether other people want you in their lives. Sometimes them not wanting you in their lives isn’t even about you, but about them. And this is what Danielle Fishel’s own friendship, miscommunications, and frictions reminded me of. A lot of the time, in my own miscommunications and frictions with friends, I tend to either think that I’m the bad person or point the finger at someone else, when in reality, I should just contouring to be living my life. I should own up and take responsibility for my mistakes. And I should never, ever take anyone’s bullsh*t when they aim to hurt me and belittle me. With that being said, I can completely understand why Sabrina Carpenter looks up to her so much and would want to be friends with her after all these years. Heck, I would too. So to end this blog entry on a positive note, I’d like to include some of Danielle Fishel’s best quotes:

• When you spend seven years of your life working on something that you’re really passionate about, and other people end up loving it, too, that just makes all of the work worthwhile.
• I think the human mind is fascinating. I love figuring out why people are doing what they do.
• It’s supposed to be fun. You should come to work every day and not have insecurities and not be self-conscious; just be your wonderful, perfect self.
• It’s pretty easy to get sucked into a vortex of others and what their thoughts are and letting other people’s judgments of you make you actually believe them about yourself. And sometimes you just need people to remind you that none of it means anything.
  

• I’ve learned to never take anything for granted and that people are all works in progress. Some people are just actively working on progressing, and some aren’t.