Mandy Moore is getting real about the “upsetting” drama that occurred between her and fellow celebrity, Ashley Tisdale. Speaking with Andy Cohen on his radio show, “Radio Andy,” the “This Is Us” star said that the feud between her and the Disney Channel alum cut her “to the core” because it painted her in a negative light.
For those who may be unfamiliar, Tisdale wrote in January 2026 for The Cut about leaving her “toxic” mom group, claiming the group of celebrity moms intentionally left her out of hangouts and group events.
While Tisdale didn’t name names, the internet concluded she was referring to Duff, Moore, and other celebs, including Meghan Trainor. “I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me,” Tisdale wrote in her essay.
She eventually said that she chose to leave the group, but not before sending a final text, which read, “This is too high school for me, and I don’t want to take part in it anymore.”
During Mooe’s chat with Cohen, she seemed to confirm that the essay was about her, calling the public letter “very upsetting.”
Moore Said It Was ‘Wild’ For Ashley Tisdale To Speak So Publicly About Their Circle Of Friends
“It’s wild to have anybody talk about your life, and I know Hilary [Duff] has sort of mentioned this too,” Moore said. “It’s like we both have grown up in this business and had people dissect who we are and the choices we make and all of that, but this was something altogether different and decidedly way more upsetting.”
She added, “It just cuts to the core.”
For Moore, she didn’t seem too worried about what Tisdale said, but more so about how it would shape people’s thoughts about her.
“The most important thing in my life is being a kind person and like that legacy of kindness, and anyone even insinuating that that might not be the case, and with the company that I choose to keep, is very upsetting,” she said. I’d say that was the biggest takeaway, sort of the shock of like, ‘Wow.’”
Moore Says She Wouldn’t Have Handled The Situation The Same Way Ashley Tisdale Did
As the conversation continued, Moore said that while she’s not fond of confrontation, she would’ve found a different way to handle her issues with a friend.
“It’s not always like the most comfortable of situations, but I think that’s where I sort of differed in feeling like I wouldn’t have handled the situation this way,” she said.
Continuing, Moore said that another reason her fallout with Tisdale hurt was that it reinforced stereotypes about female friend groups.
“… it just sort of it perpetuates this silly trope that women can’t be supportive of one another and that we’re inherently petty and that we’re inherently out to one-up each other, and I have not felt that one iota since becoming a parent,” she said.
Duff Said She’s Dealt With Friendship Fallouts Before
Duff also spoke out about the drama with her Disney peer, according to a previous report from The Blast, saying that she was used to dealing with issues like this.
“I mean, this is not new for me,” she said. “I’ve had this since I was maybe 15 and starting to get followed around by paparazzi.”
Before that, Duff spoke with Jake Shane on his podcast, “Therapuss,” and said that she’s developed stellar discernment over the years regarding friends.
“I’ve always had a really good gauge of people. I think it’s, like, a little talent that I have. I have really good friends, and it doesn’t take me long to figure someone out or just figure out that someone’s not for me,” Duff said.
Duff Has Had To Cleanse Her Friendship Cirlce In The Past
For Duff, cleansing her friendship circle is essential to her well-being. She said that she’s had to “edit” her group in the past, adding that navigating friendships after arguments can be “overwhelming.”
“I just always want my side of the street to be clean. You know what I mean? I don’t want to make anyone feel bad by my actions. I’d rather have a conversation about it,” she said.
