Sometimes life leads us down paths we never knew we’d take. Frank Fritz, a beloved television staple, was suffering quite a lot in his personal life.
Diann Bankson was Frank Fritz’s longtime lover. Their messy breakup led to his alcohol dependence, joblessness, and even a health scare. Although they have parted ways for good, their time together left indelible marks on both of them.
Frank Fritz, the host of “American Pickers,” met Diann Bankson when he was 25. The couple dated on and off, and in 2017 got engaged. A year later in 2018, they bought an Iowa farmhouse and moved in together. However, in November of the same year, their relationship took a turn for the worse when Bankson claimed she had “walked in” on Fritz “and caught him in bed with another woman.”
In an interview, Fritz revealed that Bankson had cheated on him and had even gotten a tattoo that reminded him of her betrayal. Despite this, he still wanted to marry her.
“I was going to get married, I bought a house and a big expensive ring, and then I found out my fiancée had been dating somebody else for two and a half years,” Fritz said. “She’s the cheater, that’s why I got a tattoo saying ‘Once a cheater, always a cheater,’” Fritz explained. He got the tattoo as a reminder not to make “the same mistake again.” He further added that Bankson had cost him a lot of money.
To nurse his broken heart, he began to drink, which caused him to lose a lot of weight. Fritz said, “I gave it a good shot. I tried to drink her away.” After overcoming his drinking problem, he decided to not date anyone for a while since the last relationship with Bankson had “stung hard enough.”
Professionally, Fritz also suffered losses. According to the Sun, he did not appear as the host of History Channel’s “American Pickers” after March 2020. Fritz explained his absence was due to health issues, and after his back surgery had healed, he planned on making a comeback on the show. “I would like to come back to the show. I’m 100 percent recovered now, and I’m ready to roll and go back on the show,” he said.
However, Fritz said the show had not made any clear decisions on whether they would have him back. He mentioned that a showrunner had called him and promised to get him back onscreen. Despite this, TMZ reported that the show has “no plans” of casting Fritz as a host again, despite him having worked on the show for a decade.
Meanwhile, his ex-lover Bankson debuted her new man, Eric Longlett, an Engineering Administration Manager. She posted about him on her social media, expressing how lucky she was to be with him. When Longlett took her to see Elton John perform, she wrote, “He took me to see Elton John’s Yellow Brick Road Farewell Tour. I’m a lucky girl. Love you, Babe oxo.”
On July 4, 2022, Fritz was admitted to a hospital for a stroke. His friend discovered him on the floor of his home and called for help. The US Sun obtained the 911 call where his friend said, “he might be seizuring, I’m not sure.” Fritz’s father, Bill Fritz, told the media that his son was doing better every day and recovering well.
However, his recovery was not as solid as doctors would have liked. Upon his release from the hospital, he was sent to a nursing facility and placed under guardianship. According to reports, his “longtime friend” filed an emergency appointment for temporary guardianship and conservatorship for him on August 18, 2022, which was then approved. His friend was appointed as his guardian, and the bank was assigned as his conservator to oversee his finances.
As his conservator, the bank would oversee payments to his care facility, including daily expenses, health insurance, repairs, and property taxes. They would also ensure he had access to appropriate transportation for activities and medical appointments.
As his guardian, his friend has been “in decision-making since the stroke” and had to file an “initial care plan” for him. This includes making decisions about his living arrangements, health status and healthcare needs, facilitating participation in activities, and maintaining contact with loved ones. The guardian is also expected to file a yearly report.
According to his papers, his condition was worsening and hampered his ability to make sound decisions for himself, “without which physical injury or illness may occur.” Documents showed that he could not “make, communicate, or carry out important decisions concerning his own financial affairs.” As he recovers and receives treatment for his injuries, decisions must be made on his behalf by his guardian.
The court agreed a guardian for Fritz is necessary to prevent further damage to his health. “Appointment of a guardian and conservator is necessary to avoid immediate harm to him,” the court ruled.
This is such a heartbreaking story. We wish the very best of health and healing for Frank Fritz. Share this with your friends and family so they can know what happened to their favorite television show host and say a prayer for his health.