Haylie Duff and Ashley Tisdale Showcase Children’s Playdate Following “Toxic” Mom Group Controversy
Amidst ongoing speculation regarding “mean girl” dynamics in Hollywood parenting circles, Ashley Tisdale and Haylie Duff are making it clear where their loyalties lie. The two longtime friends recently shared a glimpse into a private playdate between their children, signaling a united front despite the internet’s obsession with recent social drama.
Haylie, the elder sister of Hilary Duff, captured the sweet moment on her Instagram stories. Sharing a photo of the kids tucked away in a makeshift fort, she captioned the scene “Under table shenanigans,” a sentiment Tisdale quickly echoed by resharing the post to her own account.
The public display of friendship comes on the heels of Tisdale’s provocative essay for The Cut. In the piece, the High School Musical alum reflected on her experience with a “toxic” mom group that left her feeling isolated. “I thought I found my village. Instead I was back in high school,” Tisdale admitted, describing the painful familiarity of being excluded decades after the 10th grade.
While Tisdale refrained from naming specific individuals, fans were quick to theorize that the group in question included her former associates Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor. Tisdale eventually attempted to de-escalate the situation by clarifying that she wasn’t targeting that specific “cadre” of mothers, but the damage was already done in the court of public opinion.
Adding a layer of intrigue to the saga is the rumored estrangement between the Duff sisters. Haylie notably “liked” Tisdale’s Instagram post promoting the controversial article, which many saw as a subtle endorsement of Tisdale’s perspective. Meanwhile, Hilary’s husband, Matthew Koma, took a more direct approach by mocking Tisdale’s magazine cover. He shared a parody headline suggesting Tisdale was “self-obsessed” and “tone-deaf,” implying that other mothers were simply focusing on their own children rather than excluding her.
Hilary Duff herself has opted for silence, keeping her social media presence focused on the upcoming release of her new album, Luck… or Something, scheduled for February. Meghan Trainor also chose a playful rebuttal, posting a TikTok featuring her song “Still Don’t Care” as a reaction to the viral “mom group drama.”
