Why Ashley Tisdale Left ‘Toxic’ Mom Group With Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore

More details are emerging surrounding the dramatic fallout between Ashley Tisdale and her group of celebrity friends, which included Meghan Trainor, Mandy Moore, and fellow Disney alum Hilary Duff.

The rumors of a brewing feud began after Ashley Tisdale published a personal essay with “The Cut,” revealing that she’d made the difficult decision to cut off her “toxic” group of mom friends.

According to a previous report from The Blast, Tisdale, who has two daughters, Jupiter and Emerson, wrote in her essay that she was disappointed to learn that her group of mom friends, whom she connected with during the COVID-19 pandemic, didn’t really like her.

The “High School Musical” alum explained that she realized this after noticing she was being left out of social gatherings the other women attended. “I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me,” Tisdale wrote.

Tisdale explained that she wanted more from her friendships, so she sent them a text announcing she planned to distance herself from the group. In fact, she told them, “This is too high school for me, and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.”

At the end of her personal essay, Tisdale offered other moms encouraging advice, telling them they’re worthy of having loyal friends in their corner. “You deserve to go through motherhood with people who actually, you know, like you. And if you have to wonder if they do, here’s the hard-earned lesson I hope you’ll take to heart: It’s not the right group for you. Even if it looks like they’re having the best time on Instagram.”

After Tisdale’s essay went viral, internet sleuths began circulating theories as to why Tisdale’s relationship with the other women soured.

Many assumed it was due to Tisdale’s suspected affiliation with “MAGA” ideologies; however, a rep for the “He Said She Said” singer vehemently denied those claims, confirming that Tisdale is a registered Democrat.

A source close to the group, though, told PEOPLE that the fallout stemmed from “a misalignment of values that Ashley decided to make public.”

The source explained that while friendships naturally come and go, Tisdale’s exit didn’t “warrant a dramatic breakup text.”

A second source told the outlet that Tisdale’s feelings didn’t emerge out of nowhere. In fact, they shared that the Disney performer had been feeling “disconnected” from the group for a while.

“Ashley put this out there because [she wants people to know] toxic behavior is not acceptable,” adding that the story had blown up “in the craziest way.”

While no celebrity from the suspected friend group has directly replied to Tisdale’s personal essay, Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, seemingly confirmed that his wife is part of the “toxic” group the “Phineas and Ferb” star was referring to.

In a post to his Instagram Stories, Koma shared an image of himself posing for a fictional cover story for “The Cut” with the headline: “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend To Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers.”

Koma took it even further, adding a subheadline that read, “A Mom Group Tell All Through A Father’s Eyes.”

Meanwhile, Hilary’s sister, Haylie Duff, appears to be on Tisdale’s side, “liking” the original Instagram post of the “Bop To The Top” singer sharing her story with the publication. “LEAVE YOUR TOXIC FRIENDS BEHIND YOU IN 2026, says @ashleytisdalefrench,” the caption read.