Dylan Efron spoke out in support of actress and mom Ashley Tisdale French during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The former High School Musical co-star’s brother defended her amid a growing conversation about a so-called “toxic” mom group, asserting that he could not see her acting maliciously.
**At a Glance
- Dylan Efron defends Ashley Tisdale French on Watch What Happens Live.
- The drama centers on a mom-group that Tisdale called “toxic” in a viral essay.
- Tisdale’s essay and the ensuing speculation involve several high-profile mom friends.
- Why it matters: The exchange highlights how celebrity personal relationships can quickly become public controversies.
Dylan’s Defense on TV
During a call-in segment, Dylan, 33, was asked about the ongoing discussion. He said, “All I know is, Ashley, since I was a kid, she’s been so sweet to me.” He added, “I can’t envision her doing anything malicious to the mom group.” When host Andy Cohen suggested there might be more to the story, Dylan confirmed, “Yeah, it is,” and reiterated his lack of knowledge.
He also mentioned that Tisdale had attended his Dancing with the Stars appearance, noting, “She came to Dancing with the Stars to support me. Like, I can’t see where this drama would come from.” Dylan’s comments were aimed at reassuring fans that the actress’s behavior remains consistent with his personal experience.
The Mom-Group Drama
Earlier this month, Tisdale French sparked controversy with a viral essay for The Cut titled “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group.” The piece, published on Jan. 1, expanded on a December blog post where she warned, “Mom groups can turn toxic…not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.”
She described how group text chains excluded her, leading to cliques and feelings of exclusion. “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 wrote.
Tisdale did not name the members of the group in either the blog or the essay, but fans speculated that she was referring to a circle of celebrity moms.
Rumored Group Members
- Mandy Moore
- Hilary Duff
- Meghan Trainor
- Gaby Dalkin
- Others
Trainor, 32, who recently welcomed her third daughter, Mikey, on Jan. 18, posted a TikTok reacting to the drama. The clip, set to her new track “Still Don’t Care,” showed her typing and looking shocked.
> “Me finding out about the apparent mom group drama,” Trainor wrote in the caption, “☕️☕️☕️ #stilldontcare.”
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 2025 | Tisdale’s blog post, “You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group.” |
| Jan. 1 | Viral essay, “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group.” |
| Jan. 18 | Meghan Trainor announces third baby. |
| Jan. 21 | Dylan Efron defends Tisdale on TV. |
Key Takeaways
- Dylan Efron publicly defended Ashley Tisdale French, emphasizing her consistent sweetness.
- Tisdale’s essay highlighted toxic dynamics in mom groups, sparking speculation about her celebrity circle.
- Meghan Trainor’s TikTok response added a social-media dimension to the controversy.
- The situation underscores how personal relationships among celebrities can become fodder for public discussion.
Final Thoughts
The exchange between Dylan Efron and the Watch What Happens Live audience demonstrates that even close personal bonds can be tested by public scrutiny. As the story unfolds, observers will watch to see whether the alleged misunderstandings are resolved or if the drama intensifies.
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