Gaby Dalkin Shares Her Thoughts on Ashley Tisdale’s Essay About Challenging Mom Groups
Gaby Dalkin; Ashley Tisdale.
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Cindy Ord/WireImage; Katie Flores/Variety via Getty
Gaby Dalkin Responds to Ashley Tisdale’s Viral "Toxic" Mom Group Essay
Gaby Dalkin appears to be addressing the recent controversy sparked by Ashley Tisdale French’s essay on "toxic" mom groups. In a post on Instagram Threads, Dalkin invited her followers to share what she might have missed during her brief absence from social media.
Tisdale French’s essay, originally shared as a blog post in November 2025, gained traction after its publication in The Cut on January 1. In her writing, Tisdale describes her experience leaving a mom friend group, expressing feelings that reminiscent of high school dynamics.
In her Instagram post, Dalkin, who is reportedly part of Tisdale French’s former mom group, humorously noted, "Slowly coming back online after 2 weeks of family time, all the kid activities, and copious amounts of Christmas crack and cookies." She concluded with a playful query: "What did I miss??? 😆😆😆😆."
Gaby Dalkin’s post.
Gaby Dalkin/Threads
In her viral essay, Tisdale French, a mother of two, discussed the alienation she felt within her mom group, which included her two children, Emerson and Jupiter. Despite expressing initial joy at finding a community, she described a growing sense of exclusion that culminated in her departure from the group.
She recounted feeling increasingly distanced from her peers, eventually receiving fewer invitations and being left out of a birthday event planned for her daughter. Tisdale French poignantly noted, "This is too high school for me and I don’t want to take part in it anymore," when she ultimately decided to leave the group.
Fans quickly speculated about the identities of her former group members, including Dalkin, Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor, and Mandy Moore.
In a response to Tisdale’s essay, her husband expressed his pride for her courage in sharing her story. Meanwhile, sources close to the mom group revealed that their falling-out may have stemmed from differing values rather than dramatic disagreements.
A second source mentioned that Tisdale French had been feeling a disconnect with the group for months, indicating that her decision to speak out was rooted in a desire to address toxic behavior.
The situation escalated further when Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, criticized Tisdale French on social media. Koma posted a satirical comment that did not hold back in its critique, suggesting a tense dynamic surrounding the issue.
As the fallout continues, Tisdale French has reframed the dialogue around friendships and self-worth in her essay, stating, "If a mom group consistently leaves you feeling hurt, drained, or left out, it’s not the mom group for you." Her words resonate with many, emphasizing the importance of honest self-reflection in maintaining healthy relationships.
Ashley Tisdale, Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor, Gaby Dalkin, and others.
Hilary Duff/Instagram
