Unpacking the Fallout From Ashley Tisdale’s “Toxic Mom Group” Essay

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People criticizing Ashley Tisdale for comparing her old mom group to a high school clique might be mistaken. It seems she may have had a valid point.

Ashley French, known from High School Musical, first shared in December that she was stepping back from a group of mothers she knew. In a post on her website, she explained it wasn’t necessarily because of the women themselves, but because the group had developed a competitive and unkind atmosphere reminiscent of high school cliques.

The article, “You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group,” didn’t mention any specific individuals who were causing problems. Similarly, her later piece for The Cut, published on January 1st and titled “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group,” didn’t name names.

Jennifer Tisdale, who has two daughters, Jupiter, 4, and Emerson, 16 months, with her husband David French, was photographed spending time with other celebrity mothers like Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor. This led fans online to speculate that they were involved in something related to her.

Tisdale felt excluded, believing she’d been ostracized by a group of mothers who had turned from supportive friends into sources of conflict – a dynamic she described as going from a helpful network to a dangerous situation.

Maddie Tisdale’s representative has stated that her social media posts were not about Brittany Moore, Hilary Duff, or Meghan Trainor. According to TMZ, the representative said it was disappointing people were interpreting them that way. They also clarified that any political meaning people were finding in the posts was inaccurate.

Just as the argument seemed to be happening only in the comments section, Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, got involved.

Matthew Koma, who shares daughters Banks, 7, Mae, 4, and 8-month-old Townes with Hilary Duff, and is also stepfather to her 13-year-old son Luca (from her previous relationship with Mike Comrie), jokingly posted a fake magazine cover on Instagram Stories on January 6th, teasing an interview with The Cut.

The cover story is about a father’s perspective on a mom group where one mother’s self-absorption drives the others to focus on their own children.

TopMob News has reached out to everyone involved for comment and has not heard back.

The next day, Moore – who shares four-year-old Gus Harrison, three-year-old Ozzie Bennett, and sixteen-month-old Louise Everett with her husband, Taylor Goldsmith – was focused on something much more serious than typical conversations with other moms.

Following a concert to support those affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire, Koma shared on Instagram on January 7th that her partner, Matthew Koma, is an exceptionally talented and kind person. She explained that exactly one year prior, he generously provided her family with housing after they were forced to evacuate.

Despite this, Koma’s post continued the discussion, leading Trainor to share her thoughts on January 8th in a TikTok video.

A video showed the mother of Riley, age 4, and Barry, age 2, playfully pretending to type at a computer with her husband, Daryl Sabara. She acted surprised while her song “Still Don’t Care” played. The video was captioned with several tea emojis and the message, “Me finding out about the drama in the mom group.”

Following the incident, Sabara quickly responded to TMZ on January 8th, stating, “Everything is fine, we’re just focused on making sure the kids are okay.”

You know, when asked about Ashley Tisdale’s recent essay, my honest reaction was a bit of a pause. It’s a personal piece, and honestly, my first thought was just hoping she’s doing alright. It’s easy to get caught up in opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s about someone sharing their truth and being okay.

Many people online have come to Ashley Tisdale’s defense, with a lot of them believing the celebrities involved unfairly ignored her. Interestingly, Haylie Duff, a mother of two, showed support by liking an Instagram post that shared Tisdale’s essay about her reasons for leaving the group.

Many of her supporters understood what she was talking about, because they’d experienced similar situations. They’d been part of groups that once felt supportive and meaningful, but later became just another obligation, with unspoken rules and power dynamics developing among the members.

Tisdale noticed she was drifting apart from the rest of the group, and it felt like they didn’t even notice when she wasn’t present. She explained to The Cut that when the others went to a birthday dinner, she received explanations—not an invitation—as to why she wasn’t included.

She eventually realized she had become the odd woman out.

Was this a natural falling out between friends, or something more intentional? It’s hard to say, and Tisdale admits she doesn’t understand what caused the rift and likely never will.

This conflict shows how quickly people choose sides, but also how difficult it can be to end a failing relationship. Ultimately, everyone could use a break sometimes.

As Ashley Tisdale searches for a new musical group, let’s take a look at some unexpected celebrity friendships and the stories behind how these stars connected.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling’s incredible partnership for years – they just have amazing chemistry! Many of you probably remember them together in A Wrinkle in Time, and Mindy’s been fantastic with her recurring role on The Morning Show. But what’s really exciting is that they’re now co-writing Legally Blonde 3 – talk about a dream team bringing back a classic!

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! Ayesha Curry and Lindsay Lohan are, like, seriously close friends! I found out they first met on a trip to Dubai ages ago, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. And get this – they’re godparents to Lindsay’s adorable little boy, Laui! Can you even?! Stephen Curry is a godparent too, alongside Ayesha! It’s the cutest, most unexpected friendship ever, and I’m living for it!

The two actors, who previously worked together in the 2014 movie Men, Women & Children, played basketball together outside in New York City in July 2023.

The actor and Wu-Tang Clan rapper have collaborated on films like The Man with the Iron Fists, American Gangster, and The Next Three Days, but their connection extends beyond just work. Crowe explained to Fuse that they are close friends and he readily offers advice. He believes directors need to navigate the many strong personalities – the ‘gods’ – within the film industry to succeed.

Before they reunited at Wimbledon, Michelle Dockery and her future acquaintance first met on the set of Downton Abbey. Dockery explained to TopMob News that she met them a few years prior when they visited the set with her brother, James, as they were fans of the show.

When the soccer star moved to Los Angeles, he became friends with the rapper Snoop Dogg. David Beckham appeared on Snoop’s reality TV show, they often played soccer together, and Snoop shares his new music with David before anyone else.

Though Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart both appeared in the films Twilight and The Runaways, Dakota emphasizes that their connection goes beyond just work. She says they don’t focus on movies when they spend time together.

The two hung out together in the aughts and maintained their friendship over the years.

Though Anna and Nicki have distinct styles—Anna doesn’t seem the type to embrace excessive sparkle—they became friends at an Oscar de la Renta fashion show. Nicki even mentioned Anna’s name in one of her songs!

This is a surprising pairing! 50 Cent and Bette Midler first connected while working for the New York Restoration Project, a charity where Midler enthusiastically shared, “He’s a new addition to our team, and he’s truly brought joy to my life.”

Taylor presents herself as a well-behaved person, while Lena isn’t shy about causing a little drama. Despite their different personalities, they deeply respect each other. The creator of Girls even said Taylor’s concert was the most positive and uplifting experience she’s ever had.

The actress best known for King of Queens has become very close friends with Jennifer Lopez, often connecting over their shared love of fashion and playfully interacting on Twitter with the hashtag “#luckybesties.”

Gwyneth Paltrow, the founder of Goop, is friends with both Jay-Z and BeyoncĂ©. Interestingly, she’s a big fan of rap music, and her children even refer to Jay-Z as “Uncle Jay.”

It’s surprising to think Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are close friends, but they are! Jonah says Brad is a big jokester, and Jonah himself has become a respected actor, even earning an Oscar nomination for their movie, Moneyball.

The rapper, known for sparking debate, performed with Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards. Afterward, he reached out to Elton for help with his struggles with sobriety, saying, “I needed your advice because I was going through a difficult time.”

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2026-01-10 00:19