Earlier this month, we reported that the American Pickers star Frank Fritz had died at the age of 60 two years after suffering from a stroke.
It had previously been reported that Fritz was in a feud with his former American Pickers co-star Mike Wolfe. Thankfully, they made peace before Fritz’s death, and Wolfe was by his side when he passed away. However, their friendship wasn’t always smooth sailing for them. Let’s take a look at what happened.
Fritz And Wolfe’s Feud
Fritz and Wolfe had known each other for decades when they began starring on American Pickers together in 2010. The show saw them travel the U.S. searching for rare artifacts and treasures to either sell in antique shops or put in their personal collections.
Rumors about drama between Wolfe and Fritz didn’t start until March of 2020, when Fritz stopped appearing on American Pickers with no explanation. Wolfe officially left the show in 2021 to focus on his health.
In July of 2021, Fritz revealed that he stopped filming American Pickers because he had back surgery. Meanwhile, he was also dealing with Crohn’s disease and alcohol abuse. Fritz then dropped a bomb about falling out with Wolfe that stunned their fans.
“I haven’t talked to Mike in two years,” Fritz told The Sun. “He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing. That’s just how it is. The show is tilted towards him [Wolfe] 1,000%. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much.”
When Fritz stopped appearing on American Pickers, Wolfe’s brother Robbie took his place. Fritz saw the move as deliberate.
“I think Mike wants to get his brother Robbie in there to replace me,” Fritz stated. “I don’t know why he’s behaving like that towards me. You couldn’t just stick two people in a van and get the chemistry you get from me and Mike. We’ve known each other for about 40 years. We can finish each other’s sentences. When everybody is getting along and there’s no drama, me and him are very good together.”
Full Story: ‘American Pickers’ Star Frank Fritz Dead At 60 Two Years After Suffering From A Stroke
Wolfe Responds – Fritz Doubles Down
Wolfe responded to this interview by issuing a statement confirming Fritz’s exit.
“I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me. The journey that Frank, Dani and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding,” he said at the time. “I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
This didn’t sit well with Fritz, who used an expletive to describe this statement.
“Mike didn’t call me himself, never, like I said — we haven’t spoken for two years,” he claimed. “That is the 100% truth and I don’t like people that lie to people. I’m not a liar just for the fact that my brain can’t remember if I lied or not.”
“He knows I hurt my back, everyone in the whole network knew I hurt my back, but did one person — just one — call and see how I was? No,” Fritz continued. “So how does that make you feel? It makes you feel like you’re just a number.”
One month later, Wolfe responded to Fritz publicly.
“We all do care about Frank and we want him back on the show. I would love to talk with him again, we would absolutely love to, but he just can’t get it right,” he told The Sun. “Frank is just going through a lot personally with addictions. It’s unfortunate that he’s made decisions that have him the way he is.”
Related: ‘American Pickers’ Star Mike Wolfe Reemerges After Devastating Death Of Frank Fritz
Fritz And Wolfe Make Peace After Stroke
Things went quiet between the pair until July of 2022, when Wolfe announced that Fritz had suffered a stroke.
“I have been very private in the past year in regards to Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on,” Wolfe said at the time. “There has been lots of opinions in regards to mine and Frank’s friendship and the show but now is not the time to set the record straight. Now is the time to pray for my friend.”
In May of 2023, Fritz and Wolfe met up for the first time in three years. A friend said that “they were both in tears” as they “talked about old times.” Wolfe even allegedly expressed that he wanted Fritz back on American Pickers.
Fritz never was able to make it back to American Pickers, as the care he required after his stroke appears to have been extensive. Wolfe was by Fritz’s side when he died, indicating that their feud was a thing of the past by the end.
While it’s sad that Fritz is gone, we’re glad that he and Wolfe made peace before his death. Please join us in saying a prayer for Wolfe and the other loved ones of Fritz during this tragic time.
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