Hilary Duff isn’t dodging the conversation anymore.
After weeks of speculation surrounding Ashley Tisdale’s essay about leaving a “toxic mom group,” Hilary is addressing the situation directly — and candidly. The essay never named names, but fans quickly began connecting dots. Online chatter intensified after Hilary’s husband, Matthew Koma, appeared to weigh in with a pointed social post.
Now, Hilary is going deeper.
During a recent appearance on Call Her Daddy, the actress and singer opened up about how the situation landed with her emotionally — and why it hurt.
“I felt really sad. I honestly felt really sad. I was pretty taken aback and felt just sad. I love, I have so many groups of friends. I’m so lucky. Motherhood has brought on, like I have my core group of friends who have been my ride or die for 20 years, 10 to 20 years, and I have tons of different groups of mom friends because I have four kids, you know? So, I think I just was like, ‘Whoa.’ It sucks to read something that’s not true and it sucks on behalf of like six women and all of their lives,” Hilary said.
Her response wasn’t defensive. It was reflective.
Hilary, who balances four children, a career in entertainment, and multiple business ventures, emphasized that she moves within many circles. For her, the idea of one group being framed as “toxic” — especially if untrue — felt unfair.
When asked whether she wanted to clarify anything further, she admitted the timing added another layer.
“I think it came at like the craziest time where I was like, like the timing felt not great and I felt used.”
That word — used — carries weight.
The drama escalated when Matthew Koma posted a satirical fake headline referencing Ashley’s essay: “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend To Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers.”
The post spread quickly. Some saw it as a husband defending his wife. Others saw it as pouring fuel on an already burning situation.
Hilary, for her part, didn’t reprimand him.
“Honestly, everything he does makes me laugh. So I was like, ‘Oh my God. Oh my God.’ But I also don’t censor him, and I don’t tell him what he can and can’t post. He is so, like, fierce for me, and, like, I love him for that.”
