Rider Strong Reveals Emotional Breakdown During Boy Meets World Rehearsal

Rider Strong, known for his role as Shawn Hunter on Boy Meets World, revealed that he experienced a breakdown during rehearsals for the show's sixth season episode "Getting Hitched." The episode deals with Shawn's emotional struggle following the death of his father, Chet, and his complicated feelings about learning that his half-brother's parents were actually paying for his college tuition. Strong explained that although the episode was well-written and marked a moment where his character finally expressed deep emotions, he felt frustrated and bored with his role, leading to his emotional reaction. His co-stars Danielle Fishel and Will Friedle reflected on the intense pressure of the dramatic storyline, with Friedle noting the cast’s occasional self-absorption and desire for more complex character moments. Strong attributed his breakdown more to the cumulative pressure of the drama and fatigue from being on the show rather than the writing itself. Overall, the discussion highlighted the challenges actors face when portraying emotionally charged content over a long period.