> At a Glance
> – Ashley Tisdale left her celebrity mom group after feeling excluded
> – A source says the split was over “misalignment of values”
> – Hilary Duff’s husband mocked the essay in an Instagram parody
> – Why it matters: The saga highlights how social cliques can form even among famous moms, resonating with anyone who’s felt left out
Ashley Tisdale’s decision to publish a candid essay about quitting her mom group has ignited a Hollywood firestorm. The High School Musical alum’s story, first posted to her blog in November 2025 and republished by The Cut on January 1, details feeling sidelined by fellow celebrity moms.
The Breakup
Tisdale, 40, wrote that cliques formed inside the larger circle, with group texts that excluded certain members. She noticed unflattering gossip about absent moms and repeatedly saw photos of gatherings she was never invited to.
> “After the third or fourth time of seeing social media photos of everyone else at a hangout that I didn’t get invited to, it felt like I wasn’t really part of the group after all,” she said.
Fans quickly matched old Instagram snaps to identify possible group members including Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor, Mandy Moore, and food influencer Gaby Dalkin.
Inside Reaction
A source close to the moms tells News Of Los Angeles the friendship simply faded:
> “It was a misalignment of values that Ashley decided to make public. Friends naturally drift apart. It didn’t warrant a dramatic breakup text.”
Another insider says Tisdale hoped to show “toxic behavior is not acceptable,” adding “this is blowing up in the craziest way.”
Social-Media Fallout
On January 6, Hilary Duff’s husband Matthew Koma ridiculed the essay in his Instagram Stories. He super-imposed his face onto Tisdale’s body and wrote a fake headline:
> “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend To Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers.”
As of January 7, Tisdale still follows Meghan Trainor but has unfollowed Duff, Dalkin, and Moore. Moore continues to follow Tisdale.
Key Takeaways
- Tisdale’s essay argues it’s healthy to leave friendships that leave you “hurt, drained or left out”
- A source claims the moms viewed the split as a natural drift, not a dramatic break
- The story has struck a nerve with readers, making Tisdale’s blog post go viral
The episode underscores that even A-list moms grapple with playground politics, turning a personal essay into headline news.
