Mike Wolfe’s girlfriend Leticia Cline shut down rumors that her husband feuded with his late American Pickers co-star Frank Fritz just weeks before his death on Monday.
Following speculation that Wolfe and Fritz were not on good terms prior to his death at age 60, Cline took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight.
“Over the past three years, I have witnessed how Mike has gone above and beyond to ensure Frank received the best care,” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
Cline continued, “It was difficult to remain silent while rumors spread untruths and fueled hatred, but instead of wasting energy defending himself, he spent that time on phone calls and in person with Frank and his caretakers, including by his side as he took his last hand. breathe last night.”
Although she noted that she “never met Frank,” Wolfe’s friend insisted that she was “able to get to know him through the countless stories Mike told her” about their adventures together before and after the show.
Mike Wolfe’s girlfriend Leticia Cline shut down rumors that her husband feuded with his late American Pickers costar Frank Fritz just weeks before his death on Monday
“I am so proud of the grace and resilience that Mike has had over the years and that he has never let that get in the way of the bond of friendship. Frank will be missed by so many,” she concluded.
Previously, Wolfe’s brother, Rob, told DailyMail.com that his sibling and Fritz were in regular contact.
Last month, Rob, 57, put to bed speculation that there was bad blood between Mike, 60, and Frank, as he insisted the former costars stayed in touch.
“We are in contact with him,” he said. “The crew and I go over and see him.
“It’s kind of hard to talk about Frank in general because he can’t really talk about it for himself.
“My brother sees him more than I do.”
Providing a heartbreaking glimmer of hope, Rob added: “He’s doing well. He just can’t appear in the general public.’
Frank’s health took a huge hit in 2022 after he suffered a massive stroke that left him wheelchair-bound.
Following speculation that Wolfe and Fritz were not on good terms prior to his death at age 60, Cline took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight.
He also battled Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract, for decades.
Regarding his own relationship with the late History Channel star, Rob continued, “Frank and I have been friends since sixth grade, and you know we traveled together a lot.
“We went to lacrosse, we went to Oktoberfest, those were fun times. Those are the memories I have of him.’
Frank was involved in a public feud with Mike around 2020, with the late star revealing the pair hadn’t spoken in years.
“Over the past three years, I have witnessed how Mike has gone above and beyond to ensure Frank received the best care,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “It was difficult to remain silent while rumors spread untruths and hatred, but instead of wasting energy defending himself, he spent that time on phone calls and with Frank in person.”
The fallout began when he took time off from filming American Pickers that year to recover from back surgery.
But when the show returned in January 2021, Frank was still nowhere to be seen, and Mike later confirmed in July that Frank would not be returning to the series.
“I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he has been like a brother to me,” he said in a statement at the time.
‘The journey that Frank, Dani [Colby] and I started in 2009, as all life has its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding.”
He added, “I will miss Frank, as will all of you, and I pray for all the best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
Last month, Wolfe’s brother, Rob, (seen above) told DailyMail.com that his sibling and Fritz were in regular contact.
Insiders also told Entertainment Weekly that Frank didn’t fit into the “big picture” of the show.
That same month, Frank revealed that he had lost contact with Mike and had not spoken to him in two years.
“He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me to ask how I was doing,” he told The US Sun. ‘That’s just how it is.
“The show is 1,000 percent focused on him. I can’t even bend down that far to show you how much.
‘That’s fine. It’s like you have Aerosmith and Steven Tyler and he’s the frontman. I’ve found my place, I’m second and he’s number one in the show.
“That’s not a problem for me, maybe he has a problem.”
Frank was involved in a public feud with Mike around 2020, with the late star revealing that the pair had not spoken in years; seen in 2010
Speaking to Newsweek, he also cited Mike’s previous statement about his departure from American Pickers.
“Mike’s statement was nonsense,” he told the outlet.
‘Someone wrote it down for him. I don’t think he’s said five nice things to me in ten years, you know? Unless he took someone else down and we were both laughing.”
But in May 2023, it was reported that the feuding former costars reunited over Memorial Day weekend.
Following the news of his death on Tuesday morning, Mike paid an emotional tribute to his ‘buddy’.
“It is with a broken heart that I share with you all that Frank passed away last night,” he wrote on Instagram.
The fallout began when he took time off from filming American Pickers that year to recover from back surgery
‘Who would have ever dreamed that we would share the cockpit of a white van for millions of people interested in our adventures.
“Before the show, we set off together to places we didn’t know existed, with no destination in mind and only the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic.”
He added: “We have taken countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed to have been by his side as he made one final journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much. I know you are in a better place.”
A Facebook group dedicated to Frank claimed Mike had rushed at ‘high speed’ to get to the star’s bedside.
Fellow American Pickers castmate Danielle Colby (seen above) was one of the first to pay tribute to Frank on social media
Fellow American Pickers castmate Danielle Colby wrote, “Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love of talking tattoos, your epic collections, but what I will miss most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time.
“Frank, you loved your cat and your mother and we bonded over those things. You will be missed for all these reasons and many more. Rest in peace Road Dog.”
Alongside a throwback photo of the pair together, Rob wrote: ‘It is with a heavy heart that I have to say that my friend Frank Fritz passed away last night.
‘You all knew him from television. But I knew him from travel, fishing and family. He was the godfather of my twin girls. His smile was infectious and his laugh will be missed.
Frank was last seen on American Pickers in March 2020. Since its premiere in 2010, he has been part of the series alongside Mike and Danielle Colby; in the photo in 2015
‘Mostly just sitting in a fishing boat talking about life. I know you are in a better place… I love you buddy, I hope you catch the big one until we meet in heaven, keep the boat steady.”
Frank was last seen on American Pickers in March 2020. He has been part of the series alongside Mike and Colby since its premiere in 2010.
