Mike Wolfe’s girlfriend Leticia Cline shut down rumors that her man was feuding with his late American Pickers costar Frank Fritz just weeks before his death on Monday.
Following speculation that Wolfe and Fritz were not on good terms ahead of his death at age 60, Cline took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight.
‘For the past 3 years I have been a witness to how Mike has done everything possible to make sure Frank has had the best care,’ she wrote on her Instagram Story.
Cline continued: ‘It’s been hard to be silent while rumors spread untruths and foster hate but instead of wasting energy defending himself, he’s spent that time on phone calls and in person with Frank and his caregivers including being by his side as he took his last breath last night.’
Although she noted she ‘never got to meet Frank,’ Wolfe’s girlfriend insisted that she was ‘able 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 man was feuding with his late American Pickers costar Frank Fritz just weeks before his death on Monday
‘I’m so proud of the grace and resilience Mike has had during these years and how he has never let it come between 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 their was bad blood between Mike, 60, and Frank, as he insisted the former costars remained in touch.
‘We’re in contact with him,’ he said. ‘The crew and I go up 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.’
Giving a heartbreaking glimmer of hope, Rob added: ‘He’s doing good. He’s just not able to be out in the general public.’
Frank’s health took a huge hit in 2022 after he suffered a major stroke that left him wheelchair bound.
Following speculation that Wolfe and Fritz were not on good terms ahead of his death at age 60, Cline took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight
He had also battled Crohn’s disease – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract – for several decades.
Speaking about his own relationship with the late History Channel star, Rob continued: ‘Frank and I have been friends since sixth grade, and you know we used to travel a lot together.
‘We would go to the lacrosse, we would go to Oktoberfest, those were the 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 had not spoken for years.
‘For the past 3 years I have been a witness to how Mike has done everything possible to make sure Frank has had the best care,’ she wrote on her Instagram Story. ‘It’s been hard to be silent while rumors spread untruths and foster hate but instead of wasting energy defending himself, he’s spent that time on phone calls and in person with Frank’
Their 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, with Mike later confirming in the July that Frank would not be returning to the series.
‘I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he’s been like a brother to me,’ he said in a statement at the time.
‘The journey that Frank, Dani [Colby] and I started back in 2009, like all of life, has come with its highs and lows, blessings and challenges, but it has also been the most rewarding.’
He added: ‘I will miss Frank, just like all of you, and I pray for the very 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 did not fit into the show’s ‘big picture.’
That same month Frank revealed he had fallen out of contact with Mike and hadn’t talked to him in two years.
‘He knew my back was messed up, but he didn’t call me up and ask how I was doing,’ he told The U.S. Sun. ‘That’s just how it is.
‘The show is tilted towards him 1,000 per cent. 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.’
Frank was involved in a public feud with Mike around 2020, with the late star revealing the pair had not spoken for years; seen in 2010
Speaking to Newsweek, he also hit out at Mike’s previous statement about his American Pickers exit.
‘Mike’s statement was bullsh*t,’ he told the outlet.
‘Somebody wrote it out for him. I don’t believe in 10 years he’s said five nice things to me, you know? Unless he was cutting somebody else down and we were both laughing.’
But in May 2023, it was reported that the feuding former costars had reunited over Memorial Day weekend.
Following the news of his death on Tuesday morning, Mike paid an emotional tribute to his ‘buddy.’
‘It’s with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night,’ he wrote on Instagram.
Their fallout began when he took time off from filming American Pickers that year to recover from back surgery
‘Who would have ever dreamed we would share the cockpit of a white cargo van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures.
‘Before the show we would take off together to places we never knew existed with no destination in mind and just the shared passion to discover something interesting and historic.’
He added: ‘We’ve been on countless trips and shared so many miles and I feel blessed that I was there by his side when he took one last journey home. I love you buddy and will miss you so much I know your in a better place.’
It was claimed on a Facebook group dedicated to Frank that Mike had made a ‘high speed’ rush to be by the star’s bedside.
Fellow American Pickers cast mate Danielle Colby (seen above) was among the first to pay tribute to Frank on social media
Fellow American Pickers cast mate Danielle Colby wrote: ‘Frank, I will miss your ability to make everyone laugh, your love for talking tattoos, your epic collections but what I will miss the most are those little glimpses of vulnerability from time to time.
‘Frank, you loved your cat and your momma and we bonded on those things. You will be missed for all of these reasons and so many more. Rest in Peace Road Dog.’
Alongside a throwback photo of the pair together, Rob wrote: ‘It’s with a heavy heart I’m sad to say my friend Frank Fritz has passed away last night.
‘You all knew him from TV. But I knew him from traveling, fishing and family. He was the godfather to my twin girls. His smile was contagious and his laughter will be missed.
Frank was last seen on American Pickers in March 2020. He had been part of the series alongside Mike and Danielle Colby since it premiered in 2010; pictured in 2015
‘Most of all just time sitting in a fishing boat talking about life. I know you’re in a better place… Love you buddy hope you catch the big one until we see each other in heaven hold the boat steady.’
Frank was last seen on American Pickers in March 2020. He had been part of the series alongside Mike and Colby since it premiered in 2010.
