The world of celebrity motherhood has been rocked by a very public falling out, as Ashley Tisdale's claims of a 'toxic mom group' have drawn a seemingly pointed response from fellow actress Kaley Cuoco's own circle of friends.
A Viral Break-Up Essay
The drama began when High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale, 40, penned a candid essay for The Cut in November 2025 entitled 'Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group'. In the piece, she detailed feeling excluded and left out by members of her former 'village of moms', a group that had once included high-profile friends like Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor.
Tisdale, who shares daughter Jupiter, born in 2021, and son Emerson with husband Christopher French, claimed the dynamic became unhealthy. She sent a final group text stating, 'This is too high school for me and I don't want to take part in it anymore.' The essay went viral, especially after fans noted she had unfollowed Duff and Moore on Instagram.
The Pointed Response from Cuoco's Circle
Soon after, actress Ashley Aubra, a friend of Kaley Cuoco, shared a series of photos featuring Cuoco and other mom friends. Her caption appeared to directly reference the ongoing controversy. 'Mom groups are having a real moment on the interweb this week,' she wrote, adding, 'Shoutout to my village... Tag your supportive ride or die mom group!'
The post was conspicuously tagged with the hashtags #lifteachother and #womensupportingwomen. Other members of Cuoco's group, including Ali Manno, Amy Davidson, and Willa Ford, quickly commented with messages of love and gratitude for their supportive 'village', amplifying the apparent dig.
Fallout and Fuel to the Fire
The situation escalated when Hilary Duff's husband, Matthew Koma, publicly mocked Tisdale's article, calling her 'self obsessed' and 'tone deaf'. This added more fuel to the speculative fire about which celebrities were involved in the original rift.
Tisdale's essay revealed the pain of perceived exclusion during her postpartum period, a stark contrast to her previous gushing posts about the same group. As recently as January 2025, she had thanked them for support during the Los Angeles wildfires. Her experience highlights the complex and sometimes painful dynamics that can exist even within glamorous Hollywood circles.
While Tisdale chose to speak out about her negative experience, the very public response from Kaley Cuoco's friends has turned a personal story into a wider conversation about loyalty, support, and the very public nature of modern celebrity friendships.
