Ashley Tisdale and Haylie Duff share playdate moment amid toxic mom group fallout

Ashley Tisdale and Haylie Duff post playful playdate photo as attention continues around Tisdale’s essay

Ashley Tisdale and Haylie Duff offered a glimpse into their longtime friendship by sharing a lighthearted moment from a recent playdate between their daughters, following renewed attention around Tisdale’s discussion of a “toxic” mom group.

Duff, 40, posted an Instagram Stories photo on Tuesday, January 27, showing her daughter Lulu, 7, playing under a table with Tisdale’s daughter Jupiter, 4. Duff captioned the image “Under table shenanigans,” which Tisdale later reposted to her own Stories.

The post arrives amid public conversation surrounding Tisdale’s recent essay for The Cut, in which she wrote about stepping away from an unhealthy mom group dynamic. Tisdale first addressed the topic in a December 2025 blog post titled You’re Allowed to Leave Your Mom Group, describing how what began as a search for connection after becoming a mother eventually turned into an emotionally draining experience marked by exclusion and “mean-girl behavior.”

In her January essay, Tisdale expanded on the theme, keeping the individuals involved anonymous and framing her experience as encouragement for others to leave relationships that no longer feel supportive. She wrote that walking away from such situations can be an act of self-honesty rather than judgment.

Fans have speculated online about the identities of those involved in the former mom group, including suggestions that Hilary Duff, Haylie’s younger sister, may have been connected. Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma, publicly criticized Tisdale’s essay in an Instagram Stories post earlier this month. Hilary Duff later debuted a new song titled “We Don’t Talk” at her first concert since 2015, though she has not confirmed who or what inspired the track, People reported.

Despite the speculation, the shared playdate post highlighted the ongoing connection between Tisdale and Haylie Duff, whose friendship dates back years. Tisdale previously sold her Studio City, Los Angeles home to Haylie Duff in 2016 for $2.7 million, according to Realtor.

The moment shared on social media appeared to underscore a sense of normalcy and support between the two actresses, even as broader conversations about friendship dynamics continue around Tisdale’s candid reflections.