Reality television star Dylan Efron has stepped forward to defend actress Ashley Tisdale following her candid essay about experiencing exclusion from a celebrity mother's group. Efron, who gained fame by winning the third season of The Traitors US, expressed his support during a recent television appearance.
Longstanding Friendship and Public Support
Dylan Efron, the younger brother of High School Musical star Zac Efron, spoke about the situation on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. The 33-year-old reality star explained that while he typically avoids involving himself in such matters, his personal history with Tisdale compelled him to speak out.
"I try to stay out of that, so I don't know too much," Efron told host Andy Cohen. "All I know is Ashley, since I was a kid, she's been so sweet to me. So I can't envision her doing anything malicious to the mom group. Hopefully, it's just a misunderstanding? I honestly don't know what's going on, though."
The Mom Group Controversy
Ashley Tisdale, best known for her role as Sharpay Evans in the High School Musical franchise, recently published an essay in The Cut detailing her experiences with what she described as a "toxic mom group." The actress, who shares daughters Jupiter (4) and Emmerson (4 months) with husband Christopher French, revealed she initially believed she had "found her village" with fellow celebrity mothers before the dynamic soured.
Tisdale described discovering through Instagram that the group had been meeting without her, and noted feeling deliberately excluded during gatherings. "Another time, at one of the mom's dinner parties, I realized where I sat with her — which was at the end of the table, far from the rest of the women," she wrote. "I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me."
Disney Connections and Career Paths
The connection between Efron and Tisdale dates back to the early 2000s when Dylan's brother Zac starred opposite Ashley in the phenomenally successful Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical. The film, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, launched both Zac Efron and Ashley Tisdale to stardom and spawned two sequels.
While Ashley Tisdale continued her acting career with roles in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and various film projects, Dylan Efron has carved his own path in reality television. Following his victory on The Traitors US, he competed on Dancing with the Stars, establishing himself as a television personality independent of his famous brother.
Broader Implications of Mom Group Dynamics
In her essay, Tisdale reflected on the unexpected challenges that can emerge within parenting circles. "Here's the thing nobody prepared me for: Mom groups can turn toxic," she wrote. "Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behaviour. I know this from personal experience."
The actress described the particular sting of discovering social exclusions through social media platforms. "I remember being left out of a couple of group hangs, and I knew about them because Instagram made sure it fed me every single photo and Instagram Story," she revealed.
Public Reaction and Industry Context
The public support from Dylan Efron comes as Tisdale's essay has sparked broader conversations about friendship dynamics among celebrity parents and the challenges of maintaining genuine connections in the entertainment industry. Tisdale had previously spoken about her friendships with fellow Disney alumni including Hilary Duff and Meghan Trainor, making her revelations about exclusion particularly noteworthy.
Andy Cohen responded to Efron's comments during their interview, suggesting the situation might be more serious than a simple misunderstanding. "It seems, like, maybe more than a misunderstanding," Cohen remarked, to which Efron maintained his position: "I honestly don't know what happened. All I can say is she's been so sweet."
The exchange highlights how personal relationships formed during early career successes can endure through subsequent professional evolutions, with Efron's defense of Tisdale demonstrating loyalty that transcends their different career trajectories in the entertainment industry.
