Why did Frank Fritz leave American Pickers?
POPULAR duo Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe starred in 21 seasons of American Pickers together.
Fans were puzzled when Frank disappeared from the show in March 2020 and was not addressed by the other stars.
Why did Frank leave American Pickers?
Season 21 of American Pickers was set to be a standard season with Frank and Mike touring the USA for worthwhile antiques.
The seventh episode of the series, titled Burlesque Queen, featured both men as usual, but Frank was nowhere to be seen by episode eight.
His co-stars, Mike and Danielle Colby, didn't address his absence, and the season continued without Frank.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun in July 2021, Frank explained that he did not leave the show and claimed he was eager to return to the cast.
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He said at the time: "I would like to come back to the show. I was doing it for 11 years. I'm 100 percent recovered now and I'm ready to roll and go back on the show."
However, Frank claimed that the network wouldn't give him a straight answer about returning.
"They talk out of both sides of their mouth. It would be like me telling you I want to go back on the show and then tomorrow going, 'I never said that, I never said anything about that,'" he continued.
"The showrunner called me on my birthday on October 11 of last year, and he said, 'I'll call you back tomorrow,' but I haven't heard from those people at all. They don't contact me."
Are Frank and Mike Wolfe friends?
Frank has been open about his rocky relationship with co-star Mike Wolfe.
He told The Sun that he hadn't "talked to Mike in two years" and said his former friend had not called him to check in after his back surgery.
The feud seems to dwindle after Frank suffered a stroke on July 21, 2022.
On Instagram, the American Pickers star said: "I have been very private in the past year regarding Frank's life and the journey he's been on.
"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."
Mike wrote: "Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital.
"Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts. Frank, I pray more than anything that you make it through this okay. I love you, buddy."
Frank was allegedly found "sprawled on the floor" around the time of the incident.
Frank's father, Bill Fritz, at the beginning of August 2022, exclusively told The Sun that his son is in "stable" condition.
Frank and Mike were reunited in May 2023 after arrangements were made by a friend of the stars.
The friend who brought the former co-stars together told the local Iowa periodical The Quad-City Times: "This was not a feud between Mike and Frank at all."
She continued: "They were not feuding. They needed separation to appreciate each other."
A new episode of American Pickers premieres on July 5, 2023. Mike Wolfe's co-stars will be Danielle Colby, Robbie Wolfe, and "Jersey" Jon Szalay.
Is Frank married?
Frank is not married, although he was engaged to Diann Bankson until recently.
The pair dated on and off for many years before ending the relationship altogether.
In the breakup, both accused the other of infidelity, and Diann sued Frank for negligence on January 27, 2020.
Despite their ups and downs, Diann revealed she and Frank were engaged in 2017 and were living together in his Iowa farmhouse.
She said that in November 2018, she "walked in and caught him in bed with another woman."
The two managed to reconcile, although this did not last long as Diann claimed she got third-degree burns from Frank and his friend's negligence with a firework.
She claimed Frank "refused" to "take her to the hospital" and instead told her to "toughen up."
In the following days, Diann went to the hospital and was "treated for third-degree burns."
When the couple split again, she claimed he had the locks changed on a separate Iowa home they shared.
Diann demanded $50,000, claiming Frank was "negligent in the operation of fireworks."
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She claimed she had experienced pain and suffering, emotional distress and mental anguish, past and future loss of function of body and scarring, loss of earning capacity, loss of everyday life, and medical expenses.
On March 19, 2020, Diann dismissed the lawsuit.