Former Disney star Ashley Tisdale French recently set the internet buzzing after opening up about her decision to leave a “toxic mom group.”
In an essay for The Cut titled “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group,” the “High School Musical” alum shared her experience with the group, which some believed to have included fellow celebrities Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff and Meghan Trainor.
She revealed her experience of exclusion and cliquish behavior, explaining why she ultimately chose to walk away from the group of moms.
Here’s a breakdown of Tisdale French’s remarks and the ongoing fallout from the controversy.
What did Ashley Tisdale French say about the mom group?
After becoming a mom to her eldest daughter, Jupiter, Tisdale French said she was looking for community and was “craving connection” with other moms, so she turned to a group of fellow mothers to help her adjust.
“Most of us had been pregnant through the early pandemic, so we missed out on the activities where you meet other expectant mothers,” she wrote. “We hadn’t had baby showers or prenatal yoga, and hardly anyone had held our newborns. But finally, we were able to be together, and our kids were able to be together, and it all felt right.”
Initially, Tisdale French says she “felt a sense of belonging,” but that changed when she noticed she was being “frozen out of the group” and was no longer receiving invitations to their gatherings.
When she raised her concerns with the group, some of the moms attempted to smooth things over, while others tried to convince her she was overreacting.
“At first, I tried not to take things personally,” the actress explained. “It’s not like people aren’t allowed to get together without me — and maybe there were perfectly good reasons that I hadn’t been invited.”
Speculation of Tisdale French’s beef with Moore, Duff and Trainor
Once Tisdale’s essay made the rounds, fans started speculating about the identities of the celebrity moms involved, with Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor coming up because of their past comments about each other.
Back in December 2024, Duff told People she could count on Tisdale French, Moore and Trainor, recalling a Thanksgiving when her family was sick with the flu. “It was actually one of the hardest moments of my life,” she said, “and I was on the chat thread just ranting and raving, and they’re all just really supportive.”
Fast-forward to now: eagle-eyed fans have pointed out that Tisdale French has unfollowed both Duff and Moore.
In the essay, Tisdale French insisted she “never considered the moms to be bad people. (Maybe one.),” she wrote.
“But I do think our group dynamic stopped being healthy and positive, for me anyway.”
Tisdale’s rep releases a statement
As multiple fan theories circulated online, Tisdale French’s rep gave a statement to TMZ addressing all the speculation, and said the essay had nothing to do with Moore, Duff or Trainor.
The representative also addressed rumors that Tisdale French was frozen out for supporting MAGA, noting that the actress is a registered Democrat.
Hilary Duff’s husband slams “toxic mom group” accusations
Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, seemed to shade Tisdale French when he shared a mock-up of himself photoshopped on her photo in The Cut.
Overlaying the photo were the words, “A mom group tell all through a father’s eyes: When You’re the Most Self-Obsessed Tone Deaf Person on Earth, Other Moms Tend to Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers.”
Koma then added the caption, “Read my new interview with @thecut.”
Tisdale’s husband shares cryptic message
Tisdale French’s husband, Christopher French, then reshared a cryptic message from artist Tyler Spangler that read, “It’s your choice whether or not to engage.”
