It was the romance that defined a generation of TGIF viewers. We watched Cory Matthews and Topanga Lawrence go from weird childhood classmates to the gold standard of high school sweethearts, eventually getting married in a TV wedding that felt like a family event. But in 2026, the reality of the relationship between Ben Savage and Danielle Fishel is a lot more complicated than a scripted happy ending.
Fans always wanted them to be a real-life couple. Honestly, who wouldn't? They had that effortless chemistry that usually suggests something more is going on behind the scenes. But as time has marched on, the story of these two has shifted from "will they or won't they" to "why aren't they speaking?"
The shift is jarring. It’s weird to think that the two people who anchored Boy Meets World and its spin-off, Girl Meets World, are currently living in two completely different universes.
The "One Date" That Ended It All
Let’s clear up the biggest misconception first: No, they didn't have a long-term secret romance. They actually tried it once, though. Just once.
Back in 2022, Danielle shared a story at 90s Con that basically crushed the dreams of shippers everywhere. After working together for about two years, they both looked at each other and wondered if the on-screen sparks were real. They decided to go on a formal date to test the waters.
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It was a disaster in the most relatable way possible.
They went to dinner, looked across the table, and realized within minutes that the romantic chemistry was non-existent. "No!" was the unanimous verdict. To make matters even more sitcom-esque, they went to Denny's afterward, realized neither of them had brought a wallet, and Danielle had to leave her purse as collateral while they drove to her parents' house to get cash.
That was it. One dinner, zero sparks, and a lifetime of friendship followed. Or so we thought.
The Ghosting That Shocked the Cast
For decades, the Boy Meets World cast was the poster child for "cast as family." They did the conventions, they hung out, and they supported each other's ventures. When Danielle’s son, Adler, was born early in 2019 and spent time in the NICU, Ben was right there. He was checking in constantly, being the supportive friend everyone expected him to be.
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Then, the trail went cold.
Around 2020, Ben Savage basically vanished from the lives of his former co-stars. Danielle, along with Will Friedle and Rider Strong, has been incredibly vocal on their podcast, Pod Meets World, about the fact that Ben just... stopped responding.
"He ghosted us," Danielle told Variety. There was no big blowout fight. No "I hate you" text. Just silence. Will Friedle even admitted to texting Ben every single day for a month, trying to get a response, only to be met with a digital wall. It’s a move that feels totally out of character for the guy who played the "loyal to a fault" Cory Matthews, but real life doesn't always follow a script.
Why the Distance?
Why would someone walk away from a thirty-year friendship? People have theories, of course.
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- The Political Pivot: Ben has spent the last few years leaning hard into a political career. He ran for West Hollywood City Council in 2022 and later for Congress in California’s 30th District. Politics is a different beast than Hollywood. Some speculate he wanted to distance himself from his "child star" image to be taken seriously as a statesman.
- The Podcast Factor: When Danielle, Will, and Rider decided to launch their rewatch podcast, they asked Ben to join. He was clear: "It's not for me." He gave them his blessing, but the distance seemed to grow the minute the show started airing. Maybe hearing old stories—some of which aren't always flattering to the production or the actors—wasn't something he wanted to be associated with.
- Family Privacy: The Savage family is notoriously private. With the various headlines surrounding his brother, Fred Savage, over the years, Ben might have simply decided that a "clean break" from the public-facing BMW nostalgia machine was the only way to protect his own peace.
Danielle’s Recent Battles and Ben’s New Life
The contrast in their lives right now is pretty stark. In late 2024, Danielle went public with a breast cancer diagnosis (DCIS). She’s been incredibly brave about the process, using her platform to encourage early detection and even joining Dancing with the Stars in 2025 to celebrate her health and find "joy" after treatment.
While the rest of the cast rallied around her—Will Friedle and the gang even showed up to support her at DWTS—Ben was notably absent.
Meanwhile, Ben has been building a life away from the cameras. He married Tessa Angermeier in 2023, and they recently shared they are expecting a daughter. He’s still active in the community and doing his own thing, but it’s a thing that doesn't involve the "Matthews family" anymore.
Is There Hope for a Reunion?
It’s easy to judge from the outside. People call Ben "cold" or "ungrateful," but friendship is a two-way street that sometimes hits a dead end. Danielle has said she’ll "always love Ben" and doesn't think this is the end of their story.
Whether they ever share a screen—or even a cup of coffee—again depends on whether Ben ever feels like looking back. For now, he’s focused on the future.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the context: If you want the full, unfiltered history of their time on set, check out the early episodes of Pod Meets World. Danielle and Will talk extensively about their bond with Ben during the 90s, which makes the current silence even more poignant.
- Respect the boundaries: It's tempting to spam Ben's social media with "Why don't you talk to Topanga?" but remember these are real people, not characters.
- Support the journey: Follow Danielle’s health advocacy work; she’s doing a lot of good in the cancer awareness space right now.