Danielle Fishel Shares Difficult Experience on the Set of ‘Girl Meets World’

Danielle Fishel holds many fond memories from her role as Topanga on 'Boy Meets World.' However, her time on the spin-off, 'Girl Meets World,' was notably more challenging. Fishel rejoined the franchise from 2014 to 2017, but it did not compare favorably to her previous experience.

In a recent episode of her podcast, 'Pod Meets World,' which she cohosts with former co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle, Fishel opened up about her time on the new series. "It was a very, very difficult set," she stated. Fishel explained that the joyous atmosphere she experienced on 'Boy Meets World' was absent from the sequel. "It just wasn’t. And I went into it hoping it would be," she admitted. Instead, she encountered a "tumultuous" environment where she felt ostracized and criticized.

Fishel reflected on this shift saying, "That was not the set of Danielle being carefree and running around shaking hands and kissing babies," highlighting the stark contrast to her earlier experiences.

Centering on Riley Matthews

The new series offered a girl-centric storyline focused on 12-year-old Riley Matthews, portrayed by Rowan Blanchard, the daughter of Topanga and Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage. Fishel’s feelings towards 'Girl Meets World' came up during a disagreement with Maitland Ward, who played Rachel in the original series. Ward claimed that Fishel had long held a grudge against her since the original show ended in 2000.

The tension began when Fishel confronted Ward with a question: "Do you hate us?" Ward stated, "No, I do not hate you. I think that you hate me." She accused Fishel of ignoring her during 'Girl Meets World,' which was hurtful to Ward. This assertion surprised Fishel, who responded, "I did talk to you," noting Ward’s view that Fishel was jealous of her attention at that time.

Fishel sought to clarify the misunderstanding, sharing that her difficult experience on set was not personal toward Ward. "I’m sorry that you thought it was about you," Fishel expressed during their discussion.

Divides and Misunderstandings

During this conversation, Ward stated there is a perceived divide between the cast of the two shows, alleging Fishel, Strong, and Friedle harbored negative feelings toward Ben Savage and series creator Michael Jacobs. The hosts firmly rejected this notion. Friedle expressed deep affection for Savage, calling him one of the most vital people in his life. He lamented that Savage currently does not communicate with him, saying he felt "bailed on" during a conversation.

Fishel defended sharing stories related to Jacobs on her podcast. She insisted these tales conveyed her experience rather than negativity towards him. "The same way you wrote your book about your experiences doesn’t mean that they’re negative," she asserted to Ward. Strong echoed this sentiment, remarking, "If I'm talking about Michael yelling at me, that’s my experience."

Fishel emphasized that everyone has different experiences, with her podcast simply aiming to present those truths from their shared past.

Earlier, SSP wrote that Angelica Huston reflected on reconnection with her ex Jack Nicholson.