Danielle Fishel Reveals 'Difficult' Experience MakingGirl Meets World: 'I Felt Very Ostracized'

Mar. 15, 2025

Danielle Fishel in ‘Girl Meets World’ in 2016.Photo:Ron Tom/Disney Channel via Getty

Ron Tom/Disney Channel via Getty

Danielle Fishelsays her experience working onGirl Meets Worldwas nothing like the “fun” atmosphere onBoy Meets World.

On the most recent episode of herPod Meets Worldrewatch podcast, Fishel got into a heatedargument with fellowBoy Meets Worldalumna Maitland Ward, who said she was hurt that Fishel allegedly refused to speak to her on the set ofGirl Meets World.

The Disney Channel’sBoy Meets Worldreboot, which premiered in 2013, centered on teen Riley Matthews (Rowan Blanchard), the daughter ofBen Savage’s Cory and Fishel’s Topanga from the original series. Both Savage and Fishel reprised their roles inGirl Meets World. Ward, who played Rachel McGuire beginning inBoy Meets World’s sixth season, did not appear in the reboot, butvisited the set in 2013.

Maitland Ward and Danielle Fishel in 1998.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty (2)

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty (2)

Fishel initially defended herself, noting that she was working at the time.

“You had an attitude about it, though,” Ward, 48, countered. “There was some beef between us, and I didn’t get it. And maybe I picked up the wrong signals, but definitely there was some sort of weirdness there.”

“I really was very genuinely confused why we wouldn’t be good,” she added.

Fishel, 43, reiterated that she had been working at the time, adding that “It was a very, very difficult set in those three years.”

Danielle Fishel in 2024.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

“Let’s put it this way,” Fishel explained. “The memories we have of the fun set ofBoy Meets Worldwere not the memories or the fun set ofGirl Meets World. It just wasn’t. I went into it hoping it was going to be. I went into it expecting it to be and it wasn’t.

Fishel went on to describe the show’s set as “tumultuous.”

“It was a place I felt very ostracized. I felt very, criticized. I felt a lot of different things being on that set,” she revealed. “That was not the set of Danielle being carefree and runnin’ around shakin’ hands and kissin’ babies.”

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Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel in ‘Boy Meets World’ in 1995.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Fishel didn’t go into further detail, but added that she was sorry that Ward had taken her behavior personally. “I’m sorry that you thought it was about you or anything you were doing,” she said.

“Ben and I may be estranged right now and we may have our complaints about each other, but I will always love Ben and want what’s best for him,” Fishel said at the time. “I don’t think this is the end of our story — but time will tell.”

Representatives for Fishel and Disney have not yet replied to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

source: people.com