Boy Meets World’s Maitland Ward Felt ‘Devalued’ On Set, Talks Lady Meets World Exclusion

The actress starred as Rachel McGuire on the collection from 1998 till its finale in 2000, earlier than showing in “White Chicks” and beginning to dive headfirst into the grownup leisure enterprise, turning into one among its prime stars. Whereas she’s clearly snug with and feels empowered displaying off her physique now, that was the supply of some “very complicated” messaging again within the day whereas engaged on the sitcom.

TooFab spoke with Ward about her expertise on the TGIF staple, which she opens up about in additional element in her upcoming memoir, “Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood.” She stated going again to observe a number of the previous episodes of the present “was probably the most mind-blowing factor,” as she realized simply “how sexualized” she noticed her character now.

“One in all my first issues, we had a meals battle the place I am rubbing my ft on Will Friedle’s face. We’re rolling round in marinara sauce and beating them with an enormous baguette. Somebody within the workplaces at ‘Boy Meets World’ and Disney had a foot fetish and meals fetish,” she stated. “Having been in porn, I can acknowledge that now. Again then I used to be like, ‘It is a enjoyable meals battle.’ Somebody wished to see my ft on his face.”

Ward believes her character was seen because the “attractive” one and typically simply felt like a “prop” on set, writing that she felt she “wanted to be compliant once they wished to make use of my physique as a narrative level,” however was unable to decorate or behave equally in actual life.

“On the time, I simply thought it was my job and that is what I needed to do and I believed I used to be being actress and performer to associate with no matter was given to me. I did not notice on the the time, how sexualized it was and there was one thing that felt devaluing to me as a result of I at all times felt like I used to be nervous about my physique, I wished to be attractive to everybody, particularly the producers and stuff, but when I used to be too attractive I’d be berated for it,” she stated.

With fun, she added that “too attractive” on the time merely meant she wished to put on a crop prime. “It wasn’t like I used to be strolling round bare on set,” she quipped.

“However it was very complicated as a result of I used to be sporting lingerie on the present, however then if I used to be sporting a crop prime or one thing, they’d be like, ‘You look loopy, you are going to smash the picture of the present,'” she continued. “I felt very uncomfortable with my physique in that approach as a result of I felt like, okay, I’ve to make use of it to be attractive with a purpose to do effectively at my work and to maintain my job going as a star of the present, however alternatively, I am unable to do this in my actual life. I’ve to stroll this line that they drew for me. They at all times wished to have me strolling that line.”

She believes that even after her time on the present wrapped, she was nonetheless anticipated by some to stroll that line “for the remainder of your life.” Ward felt that was “particularly” anticipated from collection creator and govt producer Michael Jacobs — and a part of the rationale she did not return for “Lady Meets World,” the sequel collection that ran from 2014-2017.

“And as quickly as I walked away from that line, they have been like, ‘No, you are not going to be any a part of Lady Meets World,'” she stated, including that it was “a two-way road” resolution for her to not reprise her function on the present.

“I used to be having hassle with it. I did not need to play a one-note look the place I come on and it is foolish,” she defined, including that she did not actually like how Disney “dealt with the present” general. “‘Boy Meets World’ was an excellent present again within the day. Disney Channel, they have been having numerous hassle with characters. It wasn’t something like, I felt, like the unique one.”

“I did not need to [do it] , however I do know Michael Jacobs didn’t need me again as a result of I used to be on the market with this attractive picture,” she continued, including that she wasn’t even doing porn on the time however as an alternative was making headlines for her attractive cosplay at occasions like Comedian-Con.

“Individuals say, ‘Oh, Disney did not need you again due to porn’ and I am like, ‘That was thus far earlier than porn.’ I used to be simply dressing in bikinis on like Instagram,” she continued. “However they did not like that I used to be stepping out of that field or any type of deviation from what you have been. So, sure, two-way road and, to today, its bizarre as a result of we’re by no means spoken about it being Michael Jacobs however it’s like this unstated reality between us, I do know it.”

TooFab has reached out to an legal professional for Jacobs for remark.

When requested the place she stands with the remainder of the solid now and whether or not she’s had conversations about presumably showing on Will Friedle and Danielle Fishlel’s “Boy Meets World” rewatch podcast, Ward made it clear she’s positively nearer with one among them than the opposite.

“I’ve to say, Will is superb. Will has referred to as me, he is saved in contact with me, he tells me he helps me — and he says he will not watch something I do as a result of I am a sister to him — however Danielle I believe hates me,” she stated. “It is a very bizarre relationship with Danielle as a result of I have never spoken to her in any respect and she or he barely spoke to me after I was on the set of ‘Lady Meets World’ [for a reunion before the show started filming].”

“We did not have any beef, we did not have any falling out or something, she got here to my wedding ceremony, we have been pals, she was superb and we’ve an excellent image of us I cherish. However after that she simply didn’t need something to do with me, she didn’t invite me to her wedding ceremony,” Ward continued. “I wrote her a word earlier than her wedding ceremony, regardless that she did not invite me, I simply wished to write down her a word, and no response.”

Ward believes Fishel merely “would not like something that I do,” referring to her work. That being stated, she added no person within the solid, has ever “berated” her about her career, although they’ve “by no means actually talked about it” both.

She additionally stated Friedle has invited her to do the podcast and she or he would like to not solely take him up on the provide, however easy over no matter’s happening with Danielle.

In an announcement to TooFab, Fishel stated, “I went to Maitland’s wedding ceremony in 2006 and sadly by no means acquired a word from her after. I am unaware of any points between us and once we requested her months in the past if she would come on the podcast, she agreed. I am unable to wait to meet up with her.”

“Rated X: How Porn Liberated Me from Hollywood” his bookstores on September 6.