American Pickers: Mike Wolfe & Frank Fritz's Tearful Reunion Explained
During Memorial Day weekend, former "American Pickers" co-hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz met up with one another for the first time since news of a feud between the two of them started circulating.
Drama over Fritz's role on History's antique buying reality show began when he suddenly disappeared from "American Pickers" partway through Season 21. At first he explained that health issues necessitated him stepping back. Then, signs of a feud between Fritz and Wolfe surfaced, suggested that his reasons for leaving were more than just health-related. Fritz, notably, claimed that he and Wolfe hadn't spoken for two years as of July 2021, and highlighted the fact that Wolfe never reached out after he had to undergo back surgery.
In May of 2023, however, the Davenport, Iowa-based Quad City Times reported that Wolfe visited his former "American Pickers" co-host in the hospital on the Sunday before Memorial Day. News of their meeting came from a friend of Fritz's who asked not to be identified. She recounted how Fritz told her that he wanted to see Wolfe so she set up their reunion. "Mike has been wanting to see Frank for quite some time," she told the news outlet. "Frank just now felt up to seeing him. It was Frank's request to see Mike."
Rumors of bad blood between Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz may have been overblown
According to his friend, Frank Fritz and Mike Wolfe's friendship hadn't suffered quite as serious a blow as outside observers seemed to think. "This was not a feud between Mike and Frank at all," she said. "They were not feuding. They needed separation to appreciate each other."
While certain aspects of just what, exactly, kept the two of them apart will likely never become public knowledge, it seems that now those concerns have become secondary to their reconciliation, during which Fritz's friend recounted both men crying. Wolfe notably described Fritz as irreplaceable and even encouraged him to return to "American Pickers." Fritz, however, is continuing to prioritize his health.
Just like the supposed feud, Fritz has decided to keep certain details about his health private. What he has shared with the general public is that he's currently receiving inpatient care for a stroke he suffered after struggling with both digestive and spinal complications.
So, while "American Pickers" will remain without Fritz for the foreseeable future, fans of his TV dynamic with Wolfe can take solace in the fact that the duo is once again on good terms after reaffirming their close friendship.