Simply when the “poisonous mother group” drama appeared to chill off, it formally acquired a brand new layer. Hilary Duff’s sister, Haylie Duff, subtly inserted herself into the dialog by liking Ashley Tisdale’s viral essay — and followers had been fast to note.
Ashley, 40, sparked widespread chatter earlier this month after publishing a deeply private piece for The Minimize titled Breaking Up With My Poisonous Mother Group, wherein she detailed reducing ties with a bunch of mother associates she felt excluded and bullied by. Whereas Ashley by no means named names, on-line hypothesis instantly zeroed in on a potential connection to Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore and Meghan Trainor.
Now, Haylie’s social media exercise is elevating much more eyebrows.
In keeping with Us Weekly, Haylie, 40, “preferred” a joint Instagram put up shared by Ashley and The Minimize selling the essay. The put up learn, “LEAVE YOUR TOXIC FRIENDS BEHIND YOU IN 2026, says @ashleytisdalefrench. For #ItsBeenAYear, the actress, magnificence founder, and mom particulars dumping her mother group, the place the bullying between ladies mirrored their kids’s playground antics. Learn the story of the way it all unfolded, in her personal phrases, on the hyperlink in bio.”
Whereas liking a put up could appear innocent by itself, the timing — and household connections — rapidly fueled hypothesis. Some followers questioned if Haylie’s help of the essay was a delicate sign amid longstanding rumors that she and sister Hilary, 38, aren’t as shut as they as soon as had been. (The sisters haven’t been photographed collectively publicly since 2019.)
The renewed consideration comes as Ashley’s essay continues to make waves on-line. Within the piece, the Excessive Faculty Musical alum opened up about feeling sidelined inside her mother group and realizing she wanted to step away for her personal psychological well being. Earlier than formally leaving, Ashley recalled texting the group, “That is too highschool for me, and I don’t wish to participate in it anymore.”
Regardless of rampant hypothesis, Ashley’s camp has firmly denied that the essay was about any particular superstar mothers. Her consultant informed TMZ there may be “zero reality to what on-line ‘detectives’ assume they’ve cracked,” insisting the piece was not about Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore or Meghan Trainor.
Nonetheless, Hilary’s husband, Matthew Koma, appeared to weigh in with a not-so-subtle jab. In an Instagram Story posted Tuesday, January 6, the musician shared a satirical faux headline styled as a Minimize cowl. “A mother group tell-all by means of a father’s eyes,” Koma, 38, wrote. “If you’re essentially the most self obsessed tone deaf particular person on earth, different mothers are likely to shift focus to their precise toddlers.”
Ashley’s husband, Christopher French, additionally chimed in — albeit extra cryptically — by reposting a message to his Instagram Story that learn, “It’s your selection whether or not or to not have interaction.”
In the meantime, questions in regards to the Duff sisters’ relationship have lingered for years. In a November 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, Hilary appeared to allude to household rigidity whereas discussing her return to music. “We have now gone by means of a variety of the identical issues — whether or not that’s difficult relationships, anxiousness, elevating children, divorces, looking for your self in maturity, household drama…” she mentioned. “Lastly I felt secure sufficient and comfy in my circle of relatives to step exterior and open that a part of myself up once more.”
