Former American Pickers star Frank Fritz is said to be alive and “devouring chocolate ice cream” after sickening rumors circulated on the internet claiming he was dead.
Unconfirmed reports that the 58-year-old reality TV personality had died seemed to spread like wildfire last week when a website appeared on Google with the title ‘In Memory of Frank Fritz: A Journey Through His Life and Legacy’.
Confused fans also offered their condolences on Frank’s official Instagram.
However, a close friend of the star appeared to confirm over the weekend that he was very much alive.
On Frank’s Facebook fan page, they said: ‘He was devouring a chocolate ice cream sundae last night so again he’s not dead.
American Pickers star Frank Fritz is said to be alive and ‘devouring ice cream’
A close friend of Frank insisted he is “not dead” after rumours circulated online
“The rumors are still circulating, but we’ve been dealing with them a lot over the past two years. These rumors seem to be a bit stronger than most in the past.”
The friend also revealed that they would announce Frank’s death on the social media site if he were to pass away.
“If Frank were to die like his friends, we would like to have a little time to inform all of his best friends, which is a lot,” they continued.
‘And then you’ll also read it on this page of our local newspaper called the Quad City Times.
‘I assure you that the time between his death and my announcement will be brief.
“It’s important to me that his close friends come first, his beloved fans and our local people who have supported him since day one.”
Furthermore, a source close to Frank also told The US Sun: “This is all a load of nonsense. I don’t know where it came from.”
‘Frank has been fine, he’s been eating ice cream and watching the Olympics.’
American Pickers debuted on the History Channel in 2010; Mike Wolfe and Frank pictured in 2011
Frank has faced a series of health battles in recent years, including a stroke and Crohn’s disease.
Frank’s health has taken a turn for the worse in recent years, having suffered a stroke in July 2022.
At the time, American Pickers star Mike Wolfe asked fans of the History Channel series to “keep him in your hearts and thoughts.”
“I’ve been very private over the last year regarding Frank’s life and the journey he’s been on,” he began in a post shared on Instagram.
‘There have been many opinions about my friendship with Frank and about the show, but now is not the time to be clear. Now is the time to pray for my friend.
‘Frank has suffered a stroke and is in the hospital. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts.
“Frank, I pray more than anything that you can get through this safely. I love you, my friend.”
American Pickers debuted on the History Channel in 2010, following Frank, Mike, and their co-worker, Danielle Colby-Cushman, who run an antiques store in Iowa.
Frank and Mike traveled the country in search of all kinds of collectibles from collectors of all kinds.
In June 2021, it was revealed that Frank would be leaving the show, the culmination of many health issues including back surgery and suffering from Crohn’s disease.
Frank was hospitalized after suffering a stroke in July 2022, and Mike asked fans to “keep him in their hearts.”
Mike released a statement at the time describing Frank as “like a brother to me” and adding that he will “pray for the best and all good things for him on the next part of his journey.”
However, in an interview with The Sun, Frank painted a very different picture of their friendship.
He said: “Mike’s statement was nonsense, someone wrote it for him. We were never friends in primary school.”
“I don’t think he’s ever said five nice things to me in ten years, you know? Unless he was putting someone down and we were both laughing.”