The hosts of the popular US talk show The View have found themselves embroiled in a debate over celebrity parenting culture, after weighing in on actress Ashley Tisdale's very public fallout with her former 'mom group'.
A Public Breakup Sparks Debate
Ashley Tisdale, famed for her role in the High School Musical franchise, published a candid essay on New Year's Day in The Cut. In it, she detailed her decision to sever ties with a group of mother friends she described as 'toxic', famously stating the dynamic felt 'too high school for me'.
The essay prompted a lively discussion on the Saturday episode of The View, where co-host Joy Behar posed the question of whether Tisdale's actions were justified. The panel's responses were sharply divided, highlighting a broader conversation about friendship, motherhood, and public airings of private grievances.
The View's Hosts Take Sides
Sara Haines was particularly critical of Tisdale's approach. She argued that the very act of writing a dramatic public essay was 'the most high school part of this'. Haines suggested a quieter exit would have been more appropriate, stating, 'You just drop out. You just stop.'
Fellow panellist Alyssa Farah Griffin found irony in the 'semi-identifying' nature of the article, which hinted at but did not name the other women involved. Ana Navarro questioned the need for such elaborate steps, advising Tisdale could have simply left the group chat, much like their absent co-host Whoopi Goldberg famously does.
However, Griffin also acknowledged that 'toxic mom culture is a thing', offering a perspective from her own pregnancy. She urged for understanding, noting that new mothers are often overwhelmed, and a missed text is rarely personal.
The Fallout and Denials
While Tisdale did not name the mothers in question, online speculation quickly linked the drama to fellow Disney star Hilary Duff and singer Mandy Moore, both of whom Tisdale recently unfollowed on Instagram. This followed past social media posts where Tisdale had celebrated a 'moms weekend away' with Duff and Meghan Trainor in 2022.
A representative for Ashley Tisdale has firmly denied that her essay was about Duff, Moore, or Trainor. In her original piece, Tisdale described feeling 'frozen out' and left out of gatherings, emotions that took her back to the insecurities of her teenage years.
Despite the criticism from some View hosts, Tisdale stood by her decision to speak out. She concluded that the supportive feedback from other mothers who had faced similar cliquey behaviour made the public revelation worthwhile, proving she was far from alone in her experience.
