"Actors Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong openly discussed the accusations leveled against Fred Savage's brother, Ben Savage, during an interview"

In the world of rewatch podcasts, "Pod Meets World" stands out as a popular choice for fans of the beloved '90s sitcom, "Boy Meets World." Hosted by Danielle Fishel (Topanga), Will Friedle (Eric), and Rider Strong (Shawn), the podcast has been a platform for nostalgic discussions, cast interviews, and personal anecdotes. However, the trio has found themselves in a complex situation regarding the allegations against one of their former co-stars, Fred Savage.

Fred, who played Stuart in the "Everybody Loves Stuart" episode, has faced multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct over the years. Most notably, he was fired as executive producer and director of the "The Wonder Years" reboot in May 2022, following an investigation into alleged inappropriate conduct against multiple women.

Despite these allegations, none of them were mentioned when "Pod Meets World" recapped Fred's guest appearance earlier this summer. When confronted about their decision not to address the allegations during Thursday's episode, the hosts expressed their discomfort due to Fred's relationship with Ben Savage, his brother.

Danielle Fishel took responsibility for cutting the acknowledgement of the allegations from the podcast's episode, citing her discomfort discussing matters related to Ben. The hosts went back and forth on whether to acknowledge the allegations for the sake of their listeners, but ultimately decided not to because they didn't want to connect the dots and didn't think it would provide good analysis of the episode.

The podcast's approach to controversial topics has been a point of contention. While they have discussed the darker side of working in the entertainment industry and have never shied away from discussing tough topics, they felt that acknowledging the allegations against Fred might upset Ben.

This is not the first time the trio has faced such a dilemma. In 1993, Fred and his "Wonder Years" costar Jason Hervey were accused of sexual harassment by the show's former costume designer Monique Long. Representatives for both actors and a spokesperson for the show denied the charges. In March 2018, the costume designer of "The Grinder," Youngjoo Hwang, accused Fred of assault and intimidation. Fred denied the allegations.

The hosts of the podcast have maintained a close relationship with Ben Savage in the past, including working together on the spin-off series "Girl Meets World." However, Ben cut his former castmates from his life in 2020 with no explanation.

In a 2023 interview, Danielle Fishel and Will Friedle expressed their frustration and confusion about Ben's decision. They also addressed the controversy surrounding Brian Peck, another actor and dialogue coach who faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse against a minor in the early '00s. An episode of "Pod Meets World" was dedicated to Will and Rider emotionally discussing the "shame" they feel for supporting Brian during court proceedings.

Despite these challenges, the hosts continue to maintain a positive and open approach to their podcast. They believe that even vague acknowledgement of controversial topics is sufficient for their listeners, as expressed by Ceej. The trio's dedication to their craft and their commitment to honesty and transparency make "Pod Meets World" a unique and engaging listening experience.