Frankie Muniz Reflects on Feud with Hilary Duff
Frankie Muniz stands firm in his choice to discuss his fallout with Hilary Duff. The former child star, now 39, shared insights into why he and Duff waited over two decades to acknowledge their friendship ended after working on “Agent Cody Banks” in 2003.
“I came home after the interview and told my wife, Paige Price, ‘I shared something I’ve never mentioned before,'” Muniz recounted, revealing details of his partnership with AutoTrader.
“She asked, ‘What?’ and I said, ‘We talked a bit about Hilary Duff,'” he explained, admitting he had rarely opened up about their past disagreements for more than 20 years.
Now, approaching 40, Muniz expressed his desire to speak honestly. “I believe many only recognize the positive or prefer a false representation of life,” he noted. “Especially on social media, it’s just the best version of everything. It might not show the full story.”
“I’ve avoided certain topics in the past, trying to sidestep confrontation. It doesn’t contribute to conflict; it’s simply the truth. At this stage in my life, I just want to be straightforward. If it’s good, that’s wonderful. If it’s not, then that’s the reality,” he added.
Muniz mentioned that he’s been more candid in various podcasts, saying, “People seem to be interested. I don’t mind if they disagree with my thoughts. They are facts, after all.”
He reiterated that he hasn’t spoken to Duff, now 38, since filming wrapped up on “Agent Cody Banks.” “We were best friends from the age of 12 or 13,” he reflected.
Muniz and Duff became friends during their teenage years, both gaining fame around the same time. Duff starred in “Lizzie McGuire” from 2001, while Muniz’s “Malcolm in the Middle” launched in 2002.
However, Muniz recently revealed on the Joe Vulpis Podcast that their friendship soured due to actions by Duff’s mother during the casting of “Agent Cody Banks.” He recounted, “I was on the set of ‘Lizzie McGuire,’ in Hilary’s dressing room, when her mom was there asking about our summer plans. I mentioned my new movie where I’d be playing a Junior James Bond type.”
Muniz alleged that Duff’s mother inquired whether the film had a female lead, and by the following morning, Duff was cast, even though he had hoped to work with Kristin Kreuk instead.
“To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Hilary; it just wasn’t my first choice,” he said.
Muniz admitted he cut ties with Duff after seeing the movie but hinted at possibly reaching out to her if she ever portrays a younger character. “I do wish we had maintained our friendship. We had something special for a while, and I allowed her mother’s actions to get in the way. It left me feeling frustrated,” he lamented.
