'Boy Meets World' star Danielle Fishel recalls people waiting for her to turn 18 as she talks about being sexualized as child actor
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Danielle Fishel, known for her role in the popular TV series 'Boy Meets World', has candidly discussed the persistent sexualization she endured during her teenage years while working on the show. She revealed a disturbing incident where a male executive eagerly expressed his anticipation for her 18th birthday.
The actress, who joined the cast of the ABC sitcom at the young age of 12, shared her experiences in a recent episode of the 'Pod Meets World' podcast. Now 42 years old, Fishel co-hosts the show alongside her former co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle, providing a platform to reminisce about their shared memories from their time on the set.
An exec told Fishel he had pictures of her at 16 in his bedroom
During her discussion, she disclosed a troubling incident involving a male executive on the show who admitted to eagerly awaiting her 18th birthday. Additionally, she shared that she has only recently come to terms with the profound impact of being objectified at such a young age. She revealed, "I had people tell me they had my 18th birthday on their calendar."
She shared that an executive involved in the show made a disturbing joke, informing her that he had a calendar featuring her photos at the age of 16, which he proudly displayed in his bedroom. "I had a male executive, I did a calendar [shoot] at 16, and he specifically told me he had a certain calendar month in his bedroom," she shared. "And at the time, my first thought was a little bit like 'oh' but the immediate thought after that was, 'Yes, because we are peers and this is how you relate to peers.'"
Fishel took years to fully understand the impact of the sexualization she experienced as a young actress. It left her struggling to set boundaries and uncertain about how she should be treated. Whether she has shared these experiences with her husband is unknown.
Who is Danielle Fishel's husband?
Danielle Fishel is married to Jensen Karp, an American writer, comedian, and podcast host. Born on November 8, 1979, Karp has established himself in various creative fields, including writing, comedy, and music. He has authored notable books such as 'Kanye West Owes Me $300: And Other True Stories from a White Rapper Who Almost Made It Big' and contributed his writing talents to television shows such as 'Unleashed,' 'Drop the Mic,' and 'The Masked Singer.' Karp is recognized for his podcast hosting, notably on 'Get Up On This' and as a co-host on the podcast 'No-Sports Report'. It is unclear if she has shared these experiences with her husband.
'I should not have been talked about at 14, 15, 16 years old'
When asked about the experience of being perceived as an object of desire from a young age and its impact on her dating life and sexuality, Fishel shared, "As a kid, I always wanted to be older. I always wanted to be an adult, I wanted to be seen as an adult and so getting adult male attention as a teenage girl… I didn't think of it as being creepy or weird. It felt like it was validation that I was mature and I was an adult and I was capable and that they were seeing me the way I was, not for the number on a page. And in hindsight, that is absolutely wrong." She continued, "I've always been able to hold a conversation with an adult. I can look you in the eye, I've always been those things but in a romantic, male gaze sense I should not have been outwardly talked about at 14, 15, 16 years old."
