American Pickers' Frank Fritz reveals feud with 'arrogant' co-star Mike Wolfe & claims they have not

April 2024 · 5 minute read

AMERICAN Pickers star Frank Fritz is feuding with his costar Mike Wolfe- and the former friends haven’t spoken to each other in two years, The Sun can exclusively report.

Frank, 57, hasn’t appeared on History Channel’s American Pickers since mysteriously disappearing after a March 2020 episode

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Frank revealed he is currently on the outs with Mike, 57, who continues to appear on the History show. 

Frank said: “I haven’t talked to Mike in two years. 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.”

While Frank refused to reveal the exact cause of the falling out, he claimed there was tension over their shared American Pickers stardom

He explained: "The show is tilted towards him 1,000 percent. I can’t even bend that far down to show you how much. 

"That’s fine. It’s like you’ve got Aerosmith and there’s Steven Tyler and he’s the front man. I found my spot, I’m second and he’s number one on the show. That’s no problem with me, maybe he does have a problem.”

But Frank insisted he is “bigger” when it comes to viewers. 

The fan-favorite said: “I’m not arrogant and I’m more of a regular ol’ guy. The guy that connects with me is the guy who buys a 30 pack of Busch Light and a pizza on the weekend. That’s my guy. My guy buys a $150 sign, not an $8,000 sign. 

“I’m more of the common man guy, I haven’t found a $100,000 vase or any Michelangelo stuff. I’ve never really had a big, big score like that.

“But all the small scores are the bread and butter and that’s my deal.”

Frank then said it would be “hard” to “put the show on after not talking to somebody for two years.”

He even admitted: “I think Mike wants to get his brother Robbie in there to replace me. 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.”

The collector added: “I’m just trying to get through life like everybody else and be as happy as I possibly can. Life is what you put into it. If you don’t put much into it you don’t get a lot out of it.”

A rep for Mike did not immediately respond to The Sun's request for comment.

Frank previously told The Sun of returning to American Pickers: "I would like to come back to the show, but we will see. I was doing it for 11 years, but there is a lot of controversy going on right now.”

Frank noted Mike’s ongoing divorce from wife Jodi after nearly nine years of marriage. 

He continued: “It’s up to the network whether I come back on the show. It ain’t gonna affect me one bit. I didn’t leave the show. I finished shooting and then I had a little back surgery and the pandemic came.”

As The Sun previously reported, Frank dropped 65 pounds, as he has been living healthier and sober. 

In photos obtained by The Sun, Frank looked unrecognizable while debuting a shockingly thin appearance compared to his heavier figure on the show.

Frank, who suffers from Crohn’s Disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, told The Sun: “The weight loss is me watching what I’m eating so I can keep my disease under control the best I can. I’m just eating healthy. 

“After a while I started watching what I’m doing and I’m doing a little bit more walking. I keep pretty busy around here too, taking care of the grass and getting rid of the weeds.”

Frank continued that he is sober today, adding: “Not drinking helps with weight loss because when you drink you eat. I’m not dieting.

“I was drinking a little bit too, but that didn’t work out either. I haven’t had a drink in almost nine, ten months. 

“It would have been a year but I had one slip up, it was maybe for four hours but it was enough.”

Frank also blamed his heavy drinking on his nasty split from longtime girlfriend turned ex-fiancee Diann Bankson

Frank said of their split: “I tried to drink her away.”

Frank admitted that during his time off the show, he “hasn’t been out picking much lately.”

He continued: “I’ve been working on a couple motorcycles and stuff, but that’s about it. I was in Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota in August last year. I’ve been going to Sturgis for 40 years now. I was there for the 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th anniversaries and every year in between that. 

“I just got inducted two years ago to the Sturgis Hall of Fame.”

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He currently resides at his $155,000 Iowa farmhouse, where he has lived for 11 years. 

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American Pickers premiered in 2010 with Frank, Mike and Danielle Colby

Season 21 is currently airing on History. 

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