Key Takeaways:
- Ashley Tisdale wrote an essay about her experience with a "toxic" mom group, describing feelings of exclusion and cliques.
- The essay sparked speculation about the identities of the moms involved, with names like Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor being mentioned.
- Matthew Koma, Hilary Duff’s husband, responded to the essay with a sarcastic post on social media.
- Ashley’s husband, Christopher French, appeared to defend her with a subtle post on Instagram.
- Ashley’s rep denied that the essay was about specific celebrities, including Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, and Meghan Trainor.
Introduction to the Drama
Ashley Tisdale, the 40-year-old High School Musical alum, recently published a personal essay for The Cut, titled "Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group." In the essay, she reflected on her experiences with a group of fellow celebrity moms, describing feelings of exclusion, cliques, and ultimately choosing to walk away from the group. The essay sparked a lot of buzz online, with fans quickly speculating about the identities of the moms involved. Despite Ashley’s decision not to name names, the drama that followed was intense, with several people in her orbit and adjacent to the drama reacting in very different ways.
The Essay and Its Aftermath
In her essay, Ashley focused on the emotional toll of feeling left out, explaining that the group dynamic reminded her of past experiences with exclusion. She described how group text chains that didn’t include everyone led to cliques forming within the larger group, and how seeing social media photos of everyone else at hangouts she wasn’t invited to made her feel like she wasn’t really part of the group. The essay was a deeply personal and introspective look at Ashley’s experiences, and it sparked a lot of conversation online. Fans were quick to speculate about the identities of the moms involved, with names like Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor being thrown around. However, Ashley’s rep was quick to deny the speculation, stating that the essay wasn’t about any specific celebrities.
Matthew Koma’s Response
One of the most notable responses to Ashley’s essay came from Matthew Koma, Hilary Duff’s husband. Koma, a singer and producer, shared a parody image of himself on a fake The Cut magazine cover, with a mock headline that read: "A mom group tell all through a father’s eyes: When You’re the Most Self-Obsessed Tone Deaf Person on Earth, Other Moms Tend to Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers." Koma’s post was widely interpreted as a dig at Ashley, and it sparked a lot of backlash online. While he didn’t name Ashley directly, it wasn’t hard for fans to connect the dots, especially given his wife’s rumored ties to the mom group mentioned in the essay.
Christopher French Defends His Wife
In contrast to Koma’s sarcastic post, Ashley’s husband, Christopher French, appeared to defend her with a subtle post on Instagram. French, a composer, reshared a November 2025 post from graphic designer Tyler Spangler, which read: "It’s your choice whether or not to engage." The timing of the repost raised eyebrows, as it came just one day after Ashley’s essay sparked and soon after Koma’s post. While French didn’t add any commentary of his own, many fans interpreted the post as quiet support for his wife amid the backlash.
Ashley’s Rep Responds to Speculation
As the drama surrounding Ashley’s essay continued to unfold, her rep spoke out to address some of the speculation. According to TMZ, the rep said that there was "zero truth to what online ‘detectives’ think they’ve cracked, especially since the piece wasn’t even about Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff or Meghan Trainor like they’re assuming." The rep also denied that politics played any role in the drama, noting that Ashley is a registered Democrat. The statement was an attempt to calm the speculation and rumors that had been circulating online, but it’s unclear whether it will be enough to put the drama to rest.
Conclusion and Fallout
The drama surrounding Ashley’s essay is a reminder that even in the age of social media, celebrity relationships and friendships can be complex and multifaceted. While Ashley’s essay was a personal and introspective look at her experiences, it sparked a lot of conversation and speculation online. As the drama continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the situation plays out and whether the parties involved will be able to move forward. One thing is certain, however: the drama surrounding Ashley’s essay is a reminder that even in the public eye, relationships and friendships can be messy and complicated.
