Ashley Tisdale Opens Up About Leaving Her Mom Group and Leaving Behind Toxic Friendships
Ashley Tisdale at the "Wicked" Premiere on November 9, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
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Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Ashley Tisdale Leaves Mom Group Amid Allegations of Toxicity
In a revealing blog post published in December 2025, Ashley Tisdale discussed her decision to part ways with a mom friend group, which she claimed had turned “toxic.” The post, titled “You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group,” gained significant attention and provided insight into the challenges she faced within the social circle.
“When I became a mom, I craved connection almost as much as I craved sleep. So I did what a lot of us do. I joined a mom group,” Tisdale remarked in her post. However, she soon found that the dynamics within the group were shifting in ways she hadn’t anticipated. “Mom groups can turn toxic… Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamics shift into ugly places with mean-girl behavior. I know this from personal experience.”
Her candid commentary resonated with many, prompting her to elaborate on the matter in a subsequent essay for The Cut in January 2026. In this piece, Tisdale emphasized the importance of recognizing when a relationship becomes unhealthy and the validity of stepping back. “If a mom group consistently leaves you feeling hurt, drained, or left out, it’s not the mom group for you,” she wrote.
Unpacking the Decision
Tisdale’s decision to leave was not made lightly; it was preceded by a series of incidents that left her feeling isolated. Initially dismissing her exclusion from group outings as coincidental, she eventually began to suspect that it was intentional after spotting several social media posts featuring her friends without her presence. “I told myself it was all in my head and it wasn’t a big deal… But after the third or fourth time, I started to feel differently,” she recounted.
Reflecting on the behavior within the group, Tisdale noted a troubling pattern. “During the early days of the group, there was another mom who often wasn’t included… Now it seemed that this group had a pattern of leaving someone out. And that someone had become me.”
Communicating the Break
Addressing the issue directly, Tisdale likened the group’s dynamic to the “emotional echoes of high school.” In a message to the group, she expressed her discomfort, stating, “This is too high school for me, and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.” The reaction was mixed; some members attempted to mend fences, but the aftermath left her feeling more alienated.
Tisdale noted, “Some of the others tried to smooth things over… One sent flowers, then ignored me when I thanked her for them.” Despite the complications, she regarded her decision to speak up as essential, especially as a mother. “I kept thinking, ‘Aren’t we supposed to be teaching our kids to speak up for themselves when their feelings are hurt?’”
Speculation on Group Membership
While Tisdale refrained from naming specific individuals from her former friend group in her writings, speculation arose regarding other celebrity moms, including Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor, as potential members of that group. However, Tisdale’s representative clarified in January 2026 that these speculations were unfounded and stressed that she did not view the women negatively, but felt the group dynamic was no longer conducive to her well-being.
"Motherhood has enough challenges without having to wonder if the people around you are on your side," she stated. "You deserve to go through motherhood with people who actually, you know, like you."
