Ashley Tisdale’s recent photo featuring a group of moms she referred to as “toxic” had an upbeat vibe, or at least that’s how it appeared.
In December 2024, Janice Gott, who leads a small silicone breast pump company named Muu, publicly criticized Tisdale and her close circle of parent friends.
In an Instagram post, she expressed a bit of nostalgia, saying, “I wish I had more pictures with all my friends…my husband lol. But really, nothing beats a mom friend or a spouse suggesting you pivot careers to pursue your ideas so you can enjoy a pound of caviar on Thursday morning 😇.” At that time, Gott was expecting a baby and shared a series of photos and videos related to her work.
Yet, despite the seemingly supportive atmosphere, Tisdale did unfollow several members of this group, including Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Sammy Ryan, after a group outing. Interestingly, she still keeps Meghan Trainor on her following list.
Gott followed up her rant with an offer to partner with various well-regarded brands to support moms, encouraging her followers to spread positivity. She ended her post with excitement about having her baby.
Tisdale responded to Gott’s post, praising her, and the two continue to follow each other. However, the dynamic with the rest of the group seemed to have shifted.
Recently, Tisdale penned an essay for The Cut titled “Leaving a Toxic Mom Group,” sharing her feelings of being excluded and questioning her place within the group. She mentioned feeling “not cool enough” after being shut out from multiple gatherings.
Eventually, Tisdale decided to text the group, stating, “This feels too high school for me, and I’d rather step away.” Although she didn’t view any of the moms as bad people, she recognized that the connection was no longer healthy and decided to part ways.
In another blog entry, Tisdale described feeling drained and hurt by the group’s “mean girl behavior” that often led to social cliques forming within the larger circle. She elaborated on the exclusion she felt as she saw pictures online of other moms at gatherings she wasn’t invited to.
Representatives for Gott, Duff, Moore, and Tisdale did not reply immediately to inquiries for comments, though Ryan seemed to take a tacit jab at Tisdale in an Instagram story.
