Mandy Moore Finally Shows Face Amid 'Toxic Mom Group' Drama
By Afouda Bamidele on January 19, 2026 at 2:30 PM EST
Mandy Moore is out to play amid the buzzing reports about her alleged role in the "toxic mom group" drama!
The TV star was spotted getting her fun in with her co-stars weeks after Ashley Tisdale's very controversial article about her former friends, adding to her insecurities.
Mandy Moore, Hilary Duff, Meghan Trainor, and a few other women have become the object of speculation ever since the "High School Musical" actress published her deeply touching piece.
Mandy Moore Caught Up With Her 'This Is Us' Co-stars For Podcast Moment
The actress took the night off on Saturday to unwind and spend time with her former colleagues from the set of "This Is Us." Moore was spotted with her pals and "This Was Us" podcast host, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan at the Wiltern venue in Los Angeles on Saturday.
The TV personality was spotted belting out a tune on stage alongside her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, who played behind her on the guitar. Moore's outing comes after she indirectly addressed the Tisdale situation when she answered a question about some friendships taking a completely different outcome.
Replying to Cameron Rogers of the "Conversations with Cam" podcast, Moore stated, "I have friends who have kids that are older, let's say. And I have found that the people I am closest with in my life right now are people who are kind of at the same chapter of their lives as parents."
As shared by Page Six, the actress continued that she has also had to mourn some friendships that have changed over the years, even though they have children around the same age.
The TV Star Applauded Hilary Duff's Husband For Slamming The 'High School Musical' Star
The trails Tisdale's articles left behind included a reaction from Duff's husband, Matthew Koma, who publicly mocked the actress by uploading a replica of her photoshoot for her essay in the publication.
Koma placed his head on Tisdale's body and attached a caption describing the TV star as very self-obsessed and entirely out of touch. The Blast noted that Moore caught a glimpse of this and co-signed Koma's public act of defense.
She described Koma as a talented and generous human whom everyone, including her, feels very lucky to know. The actress raved about his sheer generosity towards her and her family when they needed a place to stay during the Palisades fire.
Ashley Tisdale Recalled The Moment Everything Changed In Her Old Friendship Group
In the personal essay published by the actress, she wrote about her struggles in a friendship group that started very promising, but eventually turned into her worst nightmare.
She recalled that following a series of events, she began to feel alienated from the group as she would stumble upon them having loads of fun as groups without a need or care for her presence.
"I was starting to feel frozen out of the group, noticing every way that they seemed to exclude me," the actress shared. Tisdale noted that she decided to press pause on the outings following these patterns, which also brought back unpleasant memories from her high school days.
The media personality ensured she did not suffer in silence or alienation as she informed her friends about the impact of the drama on her mental health.
Tisdale's Article Reportedly Unfairly Portrayed Hilary Duff And Mandy Moore
Sources from Moore and Duff addressed the aftermath of the article and its effects on the actresses. The Blast noted that the duo reportedly felt blindsided and hurt by the actress's feelings and expressing them so publicly.
"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," an insider claimed.
Duff and Moore reportedly felt the whole situation could have been resolved amicably and privately, instead of leaving them unfairly portrayed by the public. The "This Is Us" actress and Duff reportedly also clarified their side of the story, emphasizing that there was no mean girl behavior.
Instead, the source established that Moore and Duff were both trying to be there for Tisdale and the rest of the group during such a trying time of parenting babies.
Ashley Tisdale Reportedly Getting Hits For A Movie After Her 'The Cut' Essay
Another interesting outcome followed the actress's scathing article, as reports have emerged that some Hollywood studios have expressed interest in turning her story into a movie due to its relatability.
Production companies have also declared their readiness to collaborate with the actress and make a big-time movie from the "Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group" article.
The alleged proposition followed a denial from Tisdale's camp that she wrote the article with anyone's name at the back of her mind. Speaking of stories, the actress does have one floating about her in Hollywood, concerning her conduct towards a woman with whom she was involved in an auto crash.
The accident reportedly occurred in 2022 on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue in Los Angeles, where an attorney representing the alleged victim, Lina Gonzalez, stated that Tisdale was rude towards her.
Tisdale reportedly refused to show compassion during the accident, which left Gonzalez with injuries to her shoulder, back, and left wrist. She had apparently promised to reach out to Gonzalez through her manager, but that never happened.
Will Mandy Moore address the "toxic mom group" drama?
