Ben Savage Addresses Company During Boy Meets World Controversy
Amidst discussions from his former Boy Meets World co-stars regarding their estrangement, Ben Savage posted a mysterious update on social media about his current company during this phase of his life.
“Good company,” Savage, 45, wrote alongside two Instagram photos on Monday, June 15, showcasing him proudly holding his 7-month-old daughter while dressed in a suit against a lush backdrop. (Savage and his wife, Tessa Angermeier, have not publicly disclosed their daughter’s name, as she is their first child.)
This post came a week after Will Friedle, who played older brother Eric Matthews to Savage’s Cory Matthews on the 1990s ABC sitcom, told Us Weekly that he wished to speak about their estrangement “to his face.” Fellow co-star Danielle Fishel, who portrayed Savage’s on-screen love interest Topanga Lawrence, added that it would be “good” to discuss issues with Savage in person.
Having concluded Boy Meets World in 2000 after seven seasons — and returning for a three-season spinoff from 2014 to 2016 — Savage has distanced himself from the show’s cast and the broader Hollywood scene. A documentary titled Doc Meets World, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, explored the ongoing divide between Savage and Boy Meets World alums, including Rider Strong, who played Savage’s best friend, Shawn Hunter.
“Ben declined to join the [“Pod Meets World” recap] podcast, but we still kept in touch, [believing we were] on friendly terms,” Strong, 46, mentioned in the documentary. “He unfollowed us on Instagram and blocked our phone numbers. I feel sorry for him missing out on the experience that Danielle, Will, and I are sharing.” (The “Pod Meets World” podcast, hosted by Strong, Fishel, 45, and Friedle, 49, launched in June 2022.)
In Doc Meets World, Friedle is seen trying to message Savage, revealing years’ worth of attempts without receiving a response. He noted that he sends texts to Savage “probably at least once a month,” hoping to hear back someday.
“I truly miss him. He’s arguably one of the funniest people I’ve ever met,” Friedle expressed to Strong in the documentary.
Fishel addressed Savage’s absence in the trio’s podcast in July 2022, recalling discussions on how to include him in the project. “We explored various ways to bring him in. Ultimately, Ben mentioned, ‘I just don’t think it’s for me.’ And we respect that,” she stated. “If he ever wishes to join, we’ll keep that door open.”
In a June interview with People, Fishel reflected on Savage embracing his role as a father. “I love envisioning him in this new chapter of fatherhood,” she shared. “We [once] talked frequently about how he looked forward to being a dad.”
Savage has never publicly addressed any rift with his former Boy Meets World co-stars, but Bonnie Bartlett, wife of William Daniels — who played teacher and mentor George Feeny on the show — told Page Six in May that the cast didn’t always get along during filming. “They had some issues working together as … they matured,” she remarked. “They’ve all done well. That’s quite uncommon in a cast with young actors. They’ve managed that remarkably well. They’re all good people.”
