Kaley Cuoco Delivers Blunt Verdict on Ashley Tisdale's 'Toxic' Mom Group Fallout
Kaley Cuoco has publicly criticised fellow actress Ashley Tisdale in the aftermath of the High School Musical star's revelations about a 'toxic' Hollywood mother's group. The Flight Attendant star, who is mother to two-year-old daughter Matilda with fiancé Tom Pelfrey, did not mince words during her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Thursday evening.
Cuoco's Direct Advice During Live Television Segment
While primarily promoting her new four-part thriller series Vanished, the conversation shifted to Tisdale's recent essay detailing her painful experience with a group of Hollywood mothers. When a viewer specifically asked Cuoco for her perspective on the situation, the 40-year-old actress responded with characteristic directness.
'I mean, if you don’t like being part of a group, just leave, baby,' Cuoco stated plainly. Host Andy Cohen immediately supported this viewpoint, responding 'Right?' before Cuoco elaborated further.
'I don’t think we have to talk about it,' continued The Big Bang Theory alumna, who is also an ordained minister having officiated her sister Briana's New Year's Eve wedding. When Cohen provocatively suggested 'Like, write an essay about it,' Cuoco countered firmly: 'You don’t have to do that. Just leave… find a new group.'
Reality Star Support and Tisdale's Original Controversy
Fellow guest Erika Jayne from Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, well-versed in televised interpersonal conflicts, chimed in with agreement, stating simply 'Find someone else.' Cuoco concurred with a straightforward 'Yeah.'
The controversy originated last month when Ashley Tisdale, 40, published a detailed essay in The Cut describing her difficult separation from a circle of Hollywood mothers she had previously considered friends. While Tisdale—who shares daughters Jupiter, four, and Emerson, one, with husband Christopher French—never identified the women by name, speculation immediately focused on Hilary Duff's mom crew, which includes celebrities like Meghan Trainor and Mandy Moore.
A representative for Tisdale has denied these specific women were the targets. In her essay, Tisdale wrote carefully: 'To be clear, I have never considered the moms to be bad people (maybe one). But I do think our group dynamic stopped being healthy and positive — for me anyway.'
Social Media Reactions and Supportive Counter-Narratives
The timing of Tisdale's essay coincided with her unfollowing both Duff and Moore on Instagram, fueling further speculation among fans. Days after the essay made headlines, Kaley Cuoco's own circle of mother friends appeared to respond indirectly by celebrating their supportive network on social media.
Actress Ashley Jones posted a carousel of photographs featuring Cuoco and other mother friends with the caption: 'Mom groups are having a real moment on the interweb this week. Shoutout to my village, without whom I could be very lost and lonely. Tag your supportive ride or die mom group! I miss them all this little, but so grateful we had each other during this stage —and every stage. #lifteachother #womensupportingwomen **not all are pictured, but all who are pictured are loved #momgroup.'
This public display of solidarity contrasted sharply with Tisdale's experience, highlighting the divergent realities of Hollywood parenting circles. Interestingly, Tisdale had previously praised her own 'village of moms' after welcoming her first daughter Jupiter in 2021, sharing photographs with what appeared to be a different, more supportive group including Gaby Dalkin and Meghan Trainor.
The episode underscores the complex social dynamics within celebrity parenting networks, where public statements and social media activity often carry layered meanings beyond their surface content.
