Ashley Tisdale has inadvertently reignited the swirling rumours surrounding Hollywood's so-called 'toxic mom group' drama, following an unexpected playdate this week with Hilary Duff's estranged sister, Haylie Duff. The actress, aged 40, sparked intense speculation earlier this month after publishing a candid essay in The Cut, detailing her fallout with a circle of fellow Hollywood mothers she was once close to.
Playdate Sparks Speculation Amid Sisterly Feud
While Tisdale never explicitly named any individuals in her essay, many fans were convinced she was referencing a group that includes Hilary Duff, alongside fellow stars Meghan Trainor and Mandy Moore. A representative for Tisdale has firmly denied these claims. However, eyebrows were raised on Tuesday when Tisdale shared a photo to her Instagram Story, showing her four-year-old daughter, Jupiter, playing with Haylie Duff's ten-year-old daughter, Ryan.
The image was originally posted by Haylie Duff with the caption: 'Under table shenanigans @ashleetisdalefrench'. This casual hangout occurred just days after Hilary Duff appeared to publicly confirm the long-rumoured rift with her sister, Haylie, during her recent London concerts.
Hilary Duff's Musical Confession
While performing her new track, We Don't Talk, Duff seemed to directly address the feud with her sister. The lyrics include poignant lines such as, 'Don't know when it happened / Not even sure what it was about,' and a telling clue: 'Cause we come from the same home, same blood.'
Duff continues the emotional ballad, singing, 'People ask me how you're doing / I wanna say amazing, but the truth is that I don't know / What I always end up saying is how we don't talk / we don't talk about it / We don't talk about anything anymore.' The song also alludes to potential jealousy, with Duff crooning, 'And if it's 'cause you're jealous / God knows I would sell it all, then break you off the bigger half.'
In a heartfelt plea within the song, Duff expresses a desire to reconcile, singing, 'Let's have it out / I'll hear you out, you'll hear me out on the couch / Get back to how we were as kids.' While Duff has not officially confirmed the song is about Haylie, fans on social media are overwhelmingly convinced it is a direct reference to their strained relationship.
The Origins of the 'Toxic Mom Group' Drama
Tisdale's original essay for The Cut detailed her experience with a group dynamic that she felt had become unhealthy. 'To be clear I have never considered the moms to be bad people (maybe one),' Tisdale wrote. 'But I do think our group dynamic stopped being healthy and positive - for me anyway.'
Observant fans noted that the article's publication coincided with Tisdale unfollowing both Hilary Duff and Mandy Moore on Instagram. In a further twist, Haylie Duff 'liked' Tisdale's post about the toxic group on Instagram, adding fuel to the rumours of a feud between the Duff sisters.
A Long-Standing Sisterly Rift
The Duff sisters, once inseparable, have not been photographed together publicly since 2019 and show little online interaction. The rumoured tension is alleged to stem from issues between Hilary's husband, Matthew Koma, and Haylie's fiancé, Matthew Rosenberg. Celebrity gossip outlet DeuxMoi previously reported that the two men 'don't get along,' potentially creating strain between the sisters. Neither sister has publicly addressed the alleged distance in their relationship.
Hilary Duff is currently focused on her musical comeback, with a tour and an upcoming Las Vegas residency. Her new album, Luck...or Something, is set for release on February 20th.
Haylie Duff's Independent Career
While Haylie Duff never reached the superstar status of her younger sister, she has forged a successful career in her own right. She is best known for her role in the cult classic Napoleon Dynamite and her part in the long-running family drama 7th Heaven.
The mother-of-two has also become a successful food blogger, leading to her own cooking shows, and has starred in a string of popular television movies. In 2004, the sisters collaborated on a cover of The Go-Go's classic Our Lips Are Sealed, which became a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. They later co-headlined the 2006 teen comedy Material Girls. Haylie returned to her home state of Texas in 2021 to raise her children with her entrepreneur fiancé.
The Daily Mail contacted representatives for both Hilary and Haylie Duff for comment but did not receive a response. This latest playdate ensures the spotlight remains firmly on the complex web of relationships within this particular Hollywood circle.
