Mike Wolfe's girlfriend has dismissed rumors that Wolfe and his ex American pickers Co-star Frank Fritz argued in the lead-up to Fritz's death.

The two men starred alongside Danielle Colby-Cushman in the popular show, which follows the team as they scour the country's junkyards, basements and garages for forgotten gems, recycling and renovating them, while meeting quirky characters along the way.

Fritz died on Monday at the age of 60. Although his cause of death has not yet been revealed, his medical condition resulted in him suffering a severe stroke in 2022, which left him dependent on a wheelchair. He had also suffered from Crohn's disease for several decades – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract.

After rumors circulated that he had not supported Fritz in the years following his stroke, Wolfe's friend Leticia Cline took to her Instagram Story to set the record straight.

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Wolfe outside of normal business hours on Wednesday seeking comment.

“Over the past three years, I have watched Mike go above and beyond to ensure Frank receives the best care,” she wrote.

“It was hard to remain silent while rumors spread falsehoods and fueled hatred, but rather than wasting energy defending himself, he spent that time on telephone conversations and in person with Frank and his handlers, including being at his side when he last arrived took his last breath that night.” .

“I never met Frank, but was able to get to know him through the countless stories Mike told me about their adventures together before and after the show. I am so proud of the grace and resilience Mike has shown over these years and how.” He never allowed the bond of friendship to be missed by so many.

Cline isn't the only person who has stood up for Mike Wolfe. In an interview with Mail Online in September, his brother Rob Wolfe denied there was any bad blood between the former co-stars.

“We are in contact with him. The crew and I go up and see him,” Rob Wolfe said of Fritz.

“It's kind of hard to talk about Frank in general because he can't really talk about it himself. My brother sees him more than I do.”

Mike Wolfe shared the news of Fritz's death on Instagram on October 1, writing, “It is with a broken heart that I share with all of you that Frank passed away last night.”

“I've known Frank for more than half my life and what you saw on TV was always what I saw: a dreamer who was as sensitive as he was funny. The same off-camera as on-camera, Frank.” had the opportunity to reach the hearts of so many just by being himself.

“Who would have ever thought that we would be sharing the cockpit of a white van in front of millions of people interested in our adventures.”

“Before the show, we set off together to places we never knew existed, with no destination in mind, but only with a shared passion to discover something interesting and historical.”

He concluded: “We have taken countless trips and covered so many miles together 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.

There had previously been a public argument between Fritz and Mike Wolfe after Fritz took a break American pickers Spending time recovering from back surgery.

When the series returned in January 2021, Fritz was still not on the series, and Mike Wolfe later released a statement saying Fritz would not be returning to the series.

“I have known Frank for as long as I can remember, he was like a brother to me,” he said in a statement at the time.

“The journey that Frank, Dani (Colby) and I began in 2009, like all of life, has had its ups and downs, 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 the very best and all the best for him on the next part of his journey.”

Previous conversation with NewsweekFritz responded to Mike Wolfe's statement: “Mike's statement was bullshit. Someone wrote it down for him. I don't think he's said five nice things to me in 10 years, you know? Unless he wanted to put someone else down,” and we both laughed.

According to various reports, the feuding former co-stars repaired their relationship in May 2023.