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Danielle Fishel And Maitland Ward Got Into A Fight On The "Pod Meets World" Podcast, And It Was VERY Awkward

Larry Fitzmaurice
·4-min read

OK, let's get into the mess that happened between former Boy Meets World stars Danielle Fishel and Maitland Ward on the Pod Meets World podcast.

Steve Granitz / FilmMagic, Gabe Ginsberg / Getty Images

As you probably already know, Danielle and Maitland both starred on the iconic ABC sitcom, which ran from 1993 to 2000. The former's character Topanga Lawrence appeared across all seven seasons, while Maitland's character Rachel McGuire only appeared during the show's final two seasons.

Maitland Ward, Danielle Fishel, and Trina McGee smiling and posing on a beach
Maitland Ward, Danielle Fishel, and Trina McGee smiling and posing on a beach

So, since 2022 Danielle has been cohosting the Pod Meets World podcast with fellow former costars Rider Strong and Will Friedle. It's one of a few "rewatch podcasts" that have become very prevalent across the 2020s.

Danielle, Will, and Rider wearing Philadelphia Phillies jerseys stand closely together at a baseball stadium, smiling at the camera
Danielle, Will, and Rider wearing Philadelphia Phillies jerseys stand closely together at a baseball stadium, smiling at the camera

As Maitland's gotten older, she's transitioned into a career in the adult film industry, and back in 2022, she was outspoken about which Boy Meets World cast members have — and haven't — kept in touch. "I haven't heard like, ‘Oh, you're terrible,'" she said at the time. "But I kind of felt like I was just gone from them — like, we don't want anything to do with you anymore."

Maitland Ward in a floral-patterned gown poses on the red carpet, holding a clutch
Maitland Ward in a floral-patterned gown poses on the red carpet, holding a clutch

This brings us to the latest Pod Meets World episode, in which Maitland joined the show to talk about her time on the show as well as her current career. Things went well enough — that is, until Danielle directly asked Maitland, "Do you hate us?"

Group of young adults in casual wear chatting in a lively cafe with a coffee bar and bookshelf in the background
Group of young adults in casual wear chatting in a lively cafe with a coffee bar and bookshelf in the background

“No, I do not hate you," Maitland replied. "I think that you hate me." Maitland then went on to claim that Danielle "wouldn’t speak to" her, especially regarding Girl Meets World — the Boy Meets World spinoff series Girl Meets World, which aired on Disney Channel from 2014 to 2017. Maitland has previously claimed that she was the only original Boy Meets World cast member who was not asked to appear on the show.

Maitland Ward smiling outdoors, wearing a long-sleeve blouse, jeans, and carrying a small handbag
Maitland Ward smiling outdoors, wearing a long-sleeve blouse, jeans, and carrying a small handbag

Danielle disagreed with Maitland's characterization of the situation, but Maitland went on to accuse Danielle of unfriending her on Facebook. “I am not a Facebook person,” Danielle replied, before going on to address Maitland's claim that she messaged Danielle in 2013 but never heard back. "I found your message in the graveyard of messages — and I then felt very bad.”

Danielle Fishel with long hair smiling, wearing a dark, floral-patterned dress and a necklace, standing in front of a colorful abstract background
Danielle Fishel with long hair smiling, wearing a dark, floral-patterned dress and a necklace, standing in front of a colorful abstract background

Danielle also claimed that she asked Will for Maitland's phone number to apologize, but that Maitland had replied in subsequent Facebook messages to Will that they should "save it for the podcast" because it would be "great for the ratings."

Will Friedle in a jacket and shirt on the iHeartRadio red carpet event backdrop
Will Friedle in a jacket and shirt on the iHeartRadio red carpet event backdrop

Maitland defended her remark and went on to claim that she'd invited Danielle to her wedding in 2006 but had never heard back — and that they'd had a bad encounter when Maitland visited the set of Girl Meets World. “You had an attitude about it,” she said. “I know there was some beef between us because I didn’t get it. And maybe I picked up the wrong signals, but definitely there was some sort of weirdness there.”

Maitland Ward with long hair and vibrant makeup smiles, wearing a black outfit and a chain necklace with a lock pendant
Maitland Ward with long hair and vibrant makeup smiles, wearing a black outfit and a chain necklace with a lock pendant

After Danielle apologized and said she felt "ostracized" on the Girl Meets World set, Maitland replied, “Listen, you didn’t like the fact that I was getting a lot of attention at that time and going off in my own space and taking away that attention.” Danielle replied, “I was on the cover of Maxim in 2014.”

Danielle Fishel smiling at an event, wearing a sparkling, patterned top with long, straight hair
Danielle Fishel smiling at an event, wearing a sparkling, patterned top with long, straight hair

The two eventually tried to smooth things over, but later in the episode, Maitland said to Danielle, “Let’s be honest about this, you’re trying to go at me now because of the ratings and because people will be interested.” “No Maitland, I’m not the one who wanted to go for ratings," Danielle replied.

Maitland Ward in elegant black gown with feathered cuffs, smiling on a red carpet at AVN event. Background features logos and event name
Maitland Ward in elegant black gown with feathered cuffs, smiling on a red carpet at AVN event. Background features logos and event name

After things settled down (again), Danielle later reiterated on the podcast that she doesn't "hate" Maitland. “Similarly to the way she decided when Girl Meets World and all that stuff was in the press," she said, "that that was an opportunity for her to make a name for herself in cosplay play and in role-playing, she felt like this was an opportunity for her to get press by having conflict, which I am just not your girl to do that.”

Danielle Fishel on red carpet, wearing a patterned tropical print outfit and statement earrings, smiling at the camera
Danielle Fishel on red carpet, wearing a patterned tropical print outfit and statement earrings, smiling at the camera

“And she thought it was disingenuous for me to reach out to her. I think wanting to do it for stats is disingenuous.”

Maitland Ward smiling at an event, wearing a sleeveless, fitted dress
Maitland Ward smiling at an event, wearing a sleeveless, fitted dress

...Wow. Honestly, if any of this intrigues you, go listen to the entire episode right now, because it really is something else.

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