‘Boy Meets World’ Actors Critique ‘DWTS’ Judges’ Handling of Danielle Fishel

The criticism surrounding the judges’ treatment of Danielle Fishel on “Dancing with the Stars” has sparked a strong response from her former co-stars. Will Friedle and Rider Strong, known for their roles in “Boy Meets World,” defended Fishel after an intense Halloween performance that faced criticism. Their comments highlighted concerns about perceived bias from the judges.

Performance Overview

During a recent episode, Danielle Fishel and her partner, Pasha Pashkov, performed the Viennese waltz to “Die with a Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. They received a total score of 33 points, only one point above Elaine Hendrix, who was judged based on a taped rehearsal due to an injury.

Judge Feedback and Scores

The feedback from the judges varied significantly. Cheryl Burke indicated she wanted to see more emotion from Fishel’s performances in the future. Carrie Ann Inaba expressed mixed feelings, noting both the progress and areas needing improvement. Derek Hough pointed out a lack of torso movement, while Bruno Tonioli praised the performance, giving it a score of 9 out of 10.

Co-Stars’ Reactions

• Will Friedle and Rider Strong took to their podcast, “Pod Meets Twirl’d,” to voice their frustrations.
• Friedle expressed disbelief at the judges’ comments, describing them as unfair and biased.
• Strong remarked that the judges seemed to be holding Fishel to an unreasonably high standard.

During their discussion, Friedle pointed out, “It felt personal,” referring to Carrie Ann’s critiques. He questioned what basis there was for such judgments against Fishel, suggesting unfairness in the treatment.

Understanding the Bias

Rider Strong theorized that the judges’ perceptions might be influenced by Fishel’s youthful image and popularity. He noted that because she is well-known as Topanga, there may be an expectation for her to perform at an incredibly high standard.

Judges’ Standards

• Wil Friedle criticized Carrie Ann’s favoritism, suggesting she favors other contestants regardless of their performance.
• Strong echoed this sentiment, stating, “It seems like she’s just not rooting for Danielle.”

Danielle Fishel’s Journey

Fishel has not publicly discussed her personal challenges on the show, including her journey as a mother and her recent battle with breast cancer. Friedle argued that her strength lies in not overshadowing her dance performances with personal stories.

Both actors agreed that Danielle is doing her best and performing exceptionally well, despite the judges’ high expectations. They questioned what more she could do to gain fair acknowledgment of her efforts.

As the competition progresses, the controversy surrounding the judges’ treatment of Fishel is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion among fans and former co-stars alike. Support for Fishel from her colleagues emphasizes the love and camaraderie that persists among former cast members of “Boy Meets World.”