At a Glance
- Crystal Minkoff says she knows 70 percent of the moms Ashley Tisdale French called “toxic” and grew up with many of them.
- The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star claims the women turned on her after she joined the reality show, causing her to lose 14 friends.
- Minkoff defends Tisdale French’s account but admits she has “mixed feelings” because she can’t picture some of the women acting cruelly.
- Why it matters: The story spotlights how mom-friend dynamics can sour-even among Hollywood’s most beloved celebrities.
Crystal Minkoff is weighing in on Ashley Tisdale French’s viral essay about escaping a “toxic” mom clique in Los Angeles. During the Monday, Jan. 12 episode of her Humble Brag podcast, Minkoff revealed she has deep history with most of the women Tisdale French described.
Minkoff’s Long History With the Group
“I know, probably, 70 percent of the mom group because we all went to preschool together. We’re all the same group,” Minkoff told guest co-host Tracy Tutor of Million Dollar Listing. “One went to the same high school as us.”
The Bravo alum-who appeared on three seasons of RHOBH-explained that the current controversy exploded after Tisdale French’s essay for The Cut detailed subtle exclusion, gossip, and psychological games among the moms. Minkoff said the situation “got so big” once the article dropped.
“It’s everywhere. Everyone’s talking about it,” she said. “I don’t want to give too much tea about it because it’s their personal stuff. I just found it really interesting.”
Parallels to Her Own Fallout
Minkoff previously shared that starring on Housewives cost her 14 friendships. She drew direct parallels between Tisdale French’s exit and her own experience.
“What I found interesting is that Ashley’s story was that she left the group, and my story is I didn’t leave the group,” Minkoff said. “I did the show, and they just said – I did a whole episode about this so it’s not untold – they all went against me and dropped me.”
She believes Tisdale French is receiving outsized backlash because the other moms include high-profile names such as Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor.
“Ashley’s getting 90 percent [of the] hate,” Minkoff claimed. “I kept [my story] private. I didn’t want anyone to know. It all came from other sources.”
Mixed Emotions Over the Allegations
Despite defending Tisdale French, Minkoff admitted she struggles to picture certain women as bullies.
“Someone like Hilary, I’ve known her for 10 years. Super sweet. I cannot see her being a mean girl like that, but it’s dynamic,” she said.
Minkoff emphasized that exclusionary behavior can be subtle. “You know, if you’re being pushed out,” she added, supporting Tisdale French’s interpretation of events.
After reading the essay, Minkoff messaged one of the moms, who replied: “It’s so ironic that we’re the toxic ones and she’s on her own.”
Celebrity Status Amplifies the Divide
Minkoff argued that the glare of celebrity magnifies every slight within tight-knit parent circles. She theorized that Tisdale French anticipated some fallout but perhaps not the level of vitriol now aimed at her.
“I just wonder, what was she thinking was gonna happen?” Minkoff asked. “That’s not my [friend] group. I just know them all because we were all at the same preschool. I remember there [were] issues then. Someone wasn’t included.”
Because the other moms are “so beloved,” Minkoff feels public sympathy tilts against Tisdale French, regardless of the details.
Empathy From Shared Experience
Ultimately, Minkoff said she relates to Tisdale French’s sense of isolation.
“I went through this. I lived it,” she stated. “So my initial [thought] is I feel for all sides, because I know the group. I don’t know Ashley at all. I’ve met Ashley a couple times, but I don’t know her at all.”
She concluded that anyone who feels ostracized deserves support, even if the specifics differ. “I think I would feel connected to Ashley even if I didn’t know the players,” Minkoff said, underscoring that mom-group politics can wound anyone-celebrity or not.
