Actress Mandy Moore expressed admiration for Hilary Duff as both a mother and a musician following allegations surrounding a contentious Hollywood mom group. In an interview published on February 17, Moore highlighted Duff’s ability to balance her personal and professional life, calling it inspiring.
Moore, 41, said,
“She’s such an incredible talent and such an incredible mother,”
referencing Duff, 38.
“Seeing the way that she balances her life is really inspiring to me.”
She added,
“I think Hilary’s just managed to really find a system that works for her, and I feel like it’s a great template for me [or] for any of us on how to find that delicate balance.”
The actress further emphasized her gratitude for shared values with other parents in her circle, including Duff, amidst the spotlight on the group amid recent controversies.
“I feel exceedingly lucky that my kids happen to spend time with people that I feel like our values are aligned with,”
Moore remarked.
Mothers Connect Over Shared Parenting Experiences
Moore and Duff have found common ground in motherhood, having both expanded their families in recent years. Moore is the mother of three children: sons Gus (4) and Ozzie (3), and daughter Louise (16 months) with husband Taylor Goldsmith. Similarly, Duff, a former teen star, is raising daughters Banks (7), Mae (4), and Townes (21 months) with her husband Matthew Koma, as well as son Luca (13) with ex-husband Mike Comrie.
In discussing the friendships formed through parenting, Moore reflected on the depth of those connections. She told Glamour,
“The friends that I’ve made since becoming a parent are some of the deeper, more surprising friendships I’ve found as an adult.”
The Controversy Surrounding Ashley Tisdale’s Mom Group Exit
Moore’s praise of Duff occurs following public tension linked to Ashley Tisdale French’s departure from a celebrity mom group. In a January essay for New York Magazine’s The Cut, French described feeling excluded from a circle of moms that included herself, Meghan Trainor, Duff, Moore, and others. French’s account detailed instances of feeling left out and socially isolated within the group.
French shared,
“I remember being left out of a couple of group hangs, and I knew about them because Instagram made sure it fed me every single photo and Instagram Story,”
recounting her sense of exclusion. She continued,
“I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me. … I told myself it was all in my head, and it wasn’t a big deal. And yet, I could sense a growing distance between me and the other members of the group, who seemed to not even care that I wasn’t around much.”
After missing yet another gathering, French chose to step away, texting the group that the situation felt “too high school for me.” She clarified in her essay,
“To be clear, I have never considered the moms to be bad people. (Maybe one.),”
and added,
“But I do think our group dynamic stopped being healthy and positive — for me, anyway.”
Social media users noticed that French unfollowed Moore and Duff on Instagram; however, French’s representative denied that the essay specifically referenced Moore or Duff.
Responses and Reactions From Other Group Members
The fallout sparked widespread speculation online, with Meghan Trainor the first to publicly address the tension. Through a TikTok video in January, she acknowledged the rumors playing out behind the scenes. Trainor accompanied the video with tea emojis and her song Still Don’t Care, signaling an ironic take on the situation.
Trainor’s husband, Daryl Sabara, also commented, telling TMZ,
“No drama over here, just trying to keep the kids happy,”
referring to their children Riley (4), Barry (2), and their newborn daughter Mikey, born via surrogate in January. Sabara admitted uncertainty about the full details but expressed concern for French’s wellbeing.
Regarding Duff and Moore, a source shared with Us Weekly that both women felt shocked by French’s public recounting. The source noted,
“From their perspective, they believed the group was supportive and coming from a good place, and they never thought there was any bad intent behind how things played out.”
The insider added that the mothers involved felt they were unfairly portrayed.
“The moms insist there was no ‘mean girl’ behavior and say they were genuinely trying to be there for one another during a really vulnerable time in all of their lives,”
the source stated.
Shifts in Relationships Within the Mom Group
Another insider explained that changes in friendships were natural and that some members grew closer while others drifted apart over time. The source detailed,
“They felt like she made a bigger deal out of everything. The tension largely came from what the group saw as a clash in priorities and values,”
and recalled,
“There were a lot of bonding moments Ashley felt she missed out on.”
As the situation calmed, a separate source mentioned in late January that the moms who remained in the group held no ill feelings toward French.
Overall, the controversy reveals the complexities of maintaining relationships amid the pressures of public scrutiny, parenthood, and shifting social dynamics.
