For Dancing With the Stars Season 34’s Dedication Night, Danielle Fishel is paying tribute to her Boy Meets World costar, William Daniels, with a dance to the show’s iconic theme song.

And she’s welcoming some very special guests in the audience: most of her Boy Meets World fam! “The fabulous group of people who will be joining me at DWTS tomorrow for Dedication night,” she shared on Instagram alongside photos of several of her BMW castmates. “This dance is a dedication from me to Bill but I am representing ALL OF YOU who loved and appreciated him and his career for so many decades.” But fans quickly noticed someone missing from the reunion.

You guessed it — Ben Savage, who played Cory Matthews on the beloved show, won’t be there. Although there’s been ongoing drama with Ben and the cast for years now, no one seems to know what really went down. So, what happened between Danielle Fishel and Ben Savage? Here’s a necessary breakdown of the Boy Meets World cast drama.

Ben Savage & Danielle Fishel Boy Meets World Drama Explained

Why Did Danielle Fishel And Ben Savage Stop Talking?

In June 2023, Danielle, Will Friedle, and Rider Strong (who cohost the Girl Meets World podcast, Pod Meets World) told Variety that Ben stopped speaking to them out of the blue. “He just kind of disappeared from our lives,” Danielle shared, noting that it was shocking because Ben was there for her in 2019 when she had to deliver her son a month early. She added, “We were just so, so close, especially during that time. He was checking in with me regularly.” According to Danielle, “He ghosted us.”

But why? “I wish I knew why, to this day,” Will said at the time. “We didn’t have a fight. There’s no falling out. There was no animosity.” He’s tried to get in touch with Ben many times.

Danielle confirmed that she and Ben are “estranged” and “may have our complaints about each other.” That being said, she’ll always have love for her former costar. “If there’s anything this podcast has taught me, it’s that everyone is on their own journey and having their own experiences that can be perceived many different ways, depending on your POV,” Danielle reflected. “I will always love Ben and want what’s best for him. I don’t think this is the end of our story — but time will tell.”

Danielle and her cohosts also addressed the sensitive topic during a February 2025 episode of the rewatch podcast, which featured their former costar, Maitland Ward. “There’s a divide too because you guys hate Ben and you guys hate [Boy Meets World creator Michael Jacobs],” Maitland said, bluntly.

Will and Danielle were quick to clarify how they really feel. “I don’t hate Ben or Michael,” Will said. Danielle emphasized, “We absolutely do not hate either of them.” And when Will called Ben “one of the most important people I’ve ever met in my life,” Danielle said she feels the same way.

Ugh. There’s really no heartbreak like when a best friend just ghosts you out of nowhere.