Best Buds
Mike and Frank are best buds. This is what makes his absence even more strange. The pair was incredibly close at a point. Many people even believed they were in a romantic relationship. However, this was only gossip, as Mike is married to Jodi Faeth.
Best Buds
The Eighth Grade
The pair’s friendship began in the eighth grade. They were opposites and bounced off each other perfectly. However, did these opposites cause too many differences and create a rift in the ranks?
The Eighth Grade
No Picnic
We aren’t entirely sure of this, but we do understand that filming American Pickers is challenging. Maybe this is a valid explanation for Frank leaving. The team members aren’t strangers to working together each day of the week, and this possibly caused tension.
No Picnic
More Popular
Those starring in American Pickers have had to put up with fans following them everywhere as the show has become more popular. This is something Frank described as being ‘overwhelming,’ but the team’s work schedule can also be partly to blame.
More Popular
The Show
The viewers don’t see the 16 to 18 hours’ worth of filming the crew put into each episode. Those working on the show start at 3:30 or 4:00 in the morning to set up. It’s also a travel show and spending time in a different hotel room each night can be exhausting.
The Show
The Lifestyle
Frank didn’t seem like the type to enjoy this lifestyle. He’s known for being a private person, even though he is a reality TV star. He doesn’t use Instagram, and his Twitter account hasn’t been used since 2016.
The Lifestyle
Going Back to Frank
In an interview with The Columbus Dispatch, he stated that he would get back to being Frank once the show is over. Life in the spotlight has never been a long-term goal and the show has never gone to his head.
Going Back To Frank
His Personal Life
Frank has remained in the same house he has lived in for 26 years. He’s also had some ups and downs. In 2017, he was taken into custody for driving in the wrong direction on the freeway and failing a sobriety test.
His Personal Life
Bouncing Back
This might seem like a reason to leave the show. Nonetheless, he bounced back and admitted that he had previously used alcohol and Xanax. He was assessed for substance abuse problems and put on probation for 12 months after being given a deferred judgment.
Bouncing Back
Wasn’t Happy
It was evident that Frank wasn’t happy. He gave an interview in 2018 to the Globe-Gazette stating that the reports made him sound like Public Enemy Number One and were inaccurate, as he didn’t have any alcohol in his system.
Wasn’t Happy
Pleading Guilty
The interviewer asked why he had pleaded guilty. Frank responded saying that he did perform an illegal U-turn. Yet, he claimed that he hadn’t been under the influence. However, what about the marijuana traces found in his blood?
Pleading Guilty
A Few Weeks Earlier
Frank explained that this marijuana was from the batch he took a few weeks earlier in Colorado. This is a state where it’s legal to consume marijuana. Additionally, he told the newspaper that the police didn’t take him into custody.
A Few Weeks Earlier
Not Arrested
The police never arrested Frank nor handcuffed him. Instead, they gave him a ride home and dropped him off at his front door. He also claimed that he was reaching for his phone, which is why he veered across the road.
Not Arrested
No Ticket
The American Pickers star went on to state that he hasn’t had a ticket in 34 years. However, the Globe-Gazette found this to be untrue, as it reported Frank was found guilty of five offenses from 2003 to 2017. One of these offenses was for ‘failing to maintain control.’
No Ticket
Another Story
At this time, another story involving Frank’s personal life was released. The reality star began dating a woman named Diann Bankson. It was then reported that the couple got engaged in 2017, but this didn’t last.
Another Story
Legal Documents
Details surrounding why the pair broke it off took a while to come out. However, some legal documents were released in 2021 that explained what went wrong. It claimed that Diann filed a suit against Frank and accused him of cheating.
Legal Documents
According to Diann
However, according to Diann, she reconciled with Frank when she found out he had been unfaithful. Nonetheless, she was soon injured by Frank and one of his friends when they began drunkenly setting off fireworks.
According To Diann
Diann’s Statement
In Diann’s statement, she claimed that Frank and his friend placed one of the fireworks in a closed cylinder ashtray and tried to set it alight. However, the firework didn’t light and Frank left it in the ashtray. This is how she got injured.
Diann’s Statement
Using the Ashtray
When Diann later went to use this ashtray, the firework exploded. These court documents detailed that this incident caused several third-degree burns to her arm and hand while also burning off her eyebrows and eyelashes.
Using The Ashtray
Coming to Light
Finally, Diann disclosed that Frank refused to take her to the hospital. This incident came to light when The Sun released the story. However, Frank had disappeared from American Pickers a few months before this story began circulating.
Coming To Light
Frank’s Absence
Frank’s absence wasn’t referred to in the show. However, when asked, Mike stated that Frank wasn’t on the show because he had to undergo surgery on his back. This was believable, as this type of procedure comes with a long healing process.
Frank’s Absence
Frank’s Health
Fans also noticed a few signs that Frank was suffering from his health. Looking back, it’s easy to see that Frank’s weight was becoming a little concerning, especially during the eighth and ninth seasons of the show.
Frank’s Health
Talking
Many viewers noticed this change and began talking about what the cause might be. However, these questions were eventually answered when it was released that the reality star was suffering from a condition known as Crohn’s disease.
Talking
Speaking Out
Frank has been speaking out about his struggle with this condition for some time. In 2011, he gave an interview on the topic with Quad-City Times. He stated that Crohn’s disease is a terrible illness that has affected his life and his family members’ lives.
Speaking Out
Crohn’s Disease
This is a disease of the intestinal tract. It causes difficult symptoms and numerous pains. People with this condition might suffer from bleeding, fever, weight loss, and skin irritation. Many with this condition find that it’s helpful to be close to a toilet throughout the day.
Crohn’s Disease
Helping
The crew always helped Frank with this and ensured he had a portable toilet and a comfortable place to relax. Additionally, he would make his condition easier to manage by only eating in the evenings while filming.
Helping
Live a Productive Life
Although living with Crohn’s affects social situations and many other aspects of life, sufferers can live a productive life. Frank states that he could better manage his condition by carefully planning and making provisions for safety and health.
Live A Productive Life
Dealing with His Condition
Frank has gone on to speak with the National Enquirer about how he has dealt with the condition. His entire crew knows and they understand when he needs a break. Making it or finding a bathroom is one of the biggest challenges.
Dealing With His Condition
Taking to Facebook
After fans started getting concerned by Frank’s appearance, he took to Facebook to set the record straight. He wrote about his disease and how it was the reason for his weight loss. He also detailed that it was sometimes difficult to deal with.
Taking To Facebook
Medical Weight Loss
Frank also added that he used medical weight loss to help shed a few pounds to be in a healthier state. He said that he had been exercising and eating well. After this, he thanked his fans for their support.
Medical Weight Loss
Finding Others
It seems Frank wasn’t the only one who had a story to share. Many fans commented on the post to say how this disease had affected them. Others offered advice on how to better manage this condition with the use of medical marijuana.
Finding Others
Not the Only One
The reality star isn’t the first celebrity to suffer from Crohn’s disease. Frank is part of an ever-growing club that includes many big names in the business. Pop star Anastacia, actress Shannen Doherty, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, and Olympic competitor Carrie Johnson are a few with the same condition.
Not The Only One
McCready’s Thoughts
The guitarist talked to HuffPost where he stated that he was wildly successful in his musical career while being physically sick. He even spent the first song of his set when opening for the Rolling Stones on the toilet.
McCready’s Thoughts
His Weight Loss
Before deactivating his Instagram account, Frank posted a picture in 2014 showing off his epic weight loss. Many fans congratulated him while he stated that he had been working hard and eating well to get the results he wanted.
His Weight Loss
Vanishing
To everyone, it seemed like Frank was controlling his illness. However, could this still be the reason he left the show? Many believe that his conditions and the difficulties surrounding the global pandemic caused him to leave.
Vanishing
Self-Isolating
Because Frank has a pre-existing medical condition, he was possibly advised to take self-isolation more seriously than others. This might have meant taking a break from filming the show. However, there could have been something else stopping him from appearing.
Self Isolating
His Ex-Partner
The drama with his ex-partner Diann Bankson might have been the reason for him being absent from the show. Even though she dropped these charges, their shared home was sold for more than $350,000.
His Ex Partner
Not Forever
The other stars of the show have gone on to state that nothing is forever. Danielle said that nobody knows what’s bound to happen in the future. Everything runs its course and this also applies to the show.
Not Forever
Coming to an End
There isn’t any sign that the show is going wrap up for good. However, we all know that such shows eventually need to come to an end. Nonetheless, fans shouldn’t expect to see Frank on the show anytime soon.
Coming To An End
Unstoppable
Even though fans miss seeing Frank on the show, he is focusing on ensuring he manages his illness to live the best life possible. He has even encouraged others with the condition to get out of the house and not let Crohn’s stop them.
Unstoppable