Mandy Moore made her first public appearance since Ashley Tisdale’s viral essay about quitting a “toxic” mom circle, joining two This Is Us castmates for a live podcast taping.
At a Glance
- Moore, 41, performed two songs and recorded a live episode of This Was Us with Sterling K. Brown and Chris Sullivan
- The outing follows Tisdale’s Cut essay that implied friction within a celebrity mom group including Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor
- Meghan Trainor and Matthew Koma have both posted denials or mockery on social media
- Sources told News Of Los Angeles the split stemmed from a “misalignment of values” that didn’t need a “dramatic breakup text”
- Why it matters: The story has become a flashpoint for how public friendships-and their endings-play out in front of millions
The Jan. 12 event at an undisclosed Los Angeles venue drew a sold-out crowd. Moore, Brown, and Sullivan recorded a 90-minute episode of their rewatch podcast devoted to the Dan Fogelman drama, then took audience questions. Moore closed the night with acoustic versions of “When I Wasn’t Watching” and “Top of the World,” tracks from her 2022 album In Real Life.
Photographers captured Moore smiling with attendees but declining press interviews. She wore a navy blazer, black jeans, and white sneakers-her first photographed outfit since Tisdale’s essay ricocheted across social media.
The Essay That Lit the Fuse
Tisdale’s Jan. 6 Cut piece, titled “You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group,” described an unnamed clique that turned emotionally unhealthy. Although no names appeared, fans matched old Instagram posts to identify a circle that included:
- Hilary Duff
- Food influencer Gaby Dalkin
- Meghan Trainor
- Mandy Moore
Tisdale wrote that “friendships, like all relationships, have seasons,” framing her exit as self-care rather than feud. The essay racked up more than 2 million views in five days and trended on TikTok under #MomGroupDrama.
Social Media Blowback
Matthew Koma, married to Duff, escalated the chatter by Photoshopping himself onto Tisdale’s body for an Instagram Story. The fake Cut coverline read: “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend to Shift Focus to Their Actual Toddlers.” He captioned it: “Read my new interview with @TheCut.”
Meghan Trainor countered with a TikTok clip Jan. 12, lip-syncing a Stranger Things scene where a child begs, “Come on you have to believe me! Please, you have to believe me.” Her overlay text: “Me still trying to convince everyone I’m not involved in the mom group drama.”
Trainor added in the caption: “I swear i’m innocent.”
Inside the Split
{A source close to the group told News Of Los Angeles the fracture was gradual: “It was a misalignment of values that Ashley decided to make public. Friends naturally drift apart. It didn’t warrant a dramatic breakup text.” A second insider said Tisdale had felt a “disconnect” for months and posted the essay to spotlight “toxic behavior.”
Both sources emphasized no single incident triggered the rift. Instead, parenting philosophies and scheduling conflicts accumulated until Tisdale quietly exited group chats and playdates last fall.
| Key Dates | Event |
|---|---|
| Jan. 6 | Tisdale’s essay publishes in The Cut |
| Jan. 7 | Christopher French praises wife on Instagram; Koma posts parody photo |
| Jan. 12 | Trainor posts TikTok denial; Moore appears at live podcast taping |
Moore Keeps Focus on Work
Moore’s representatives declined to comment on the mom-group narrative, citing her commitment to This Was Us promotion. The podcast, launched in 2023, dissects each episode of the NBC drama; the live taping will release as Season 3, Episode 14.
Audience member Lila Hernandez, 29, told News Of Los Angeles Moore seemed “relaxed and excited to be singing again.” Hernandez added: “She didn’t bring up the drama, and the moderators kept questions to the show.”
Moore shares sons Gus, 3, Ozzie, 2, and Lou, 8 months, with husband Taylor Goldsmith. The family recently moved from Los Feliz to a quieter neighborhood she has not publicly named.
Fallout Continues
Tisdale has not posted since Jan. 8, when she shared a photo of daughter Jupiter, 2, with caption “Choosing peace.” Duff has limited Instagram comments after followers flooded recent posts with references to the essay. Trainor, meanwhile, is preparing a February Vegas residency and told News Of Los Angeles she wants the narrative to “move on.”
Christopher French, Tisdale’s husband, signaled support by resharing an Instagram text image Jan. 7: “Underrated life skill: Pausing to decide if it’s worth your energy.” He previously wrote under The Cut’s Instagram: “I’m so proud of you 💘”
Key Takeaways
- Moore’s appearance marks her first public move since being linked to the mom-group fallout
- Sources say the celebrity circle splintered over lifestyle differences, not one explosive fight
- Social-media reactions from Koma and Trainor have kept the story trending, even as Moore stays silent
- The next This Was Us episode will drop Jan. 17, giving Moore another promotional milestone without wading into personal headlines
