Crystal Kung Minkoff recently opened up about her thoughts on the fallout surrounding Ashley Tisdale’s experiences with a so-called “toxic” mom group during a new episode of her podcast, “Humble Brag.” As a former star of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Minkoff, who previously revealed she lost “14 friends” after her appearance on the show, can relate to feelings of exclusion that Tisdale described in her recent essay for The Cut, titled “Breaking Up With My Toxic Mom Group.”
During the podcast, Minkoff, 42, explained that she knows about 70 percent of the moms involved in Tisdale’s group because their children attended preschool together, while also stressing the need to protect their privacy. Although she is not part of the influential circle that includes celebrities like Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor, she empathizes with Tisdale’s decision to distance herself after feeling “not cool enough” due to exclusion from social gatherings.
Minkoff noted, “Ashley’s story was that she left the group, and my story is I didn’t leave the group… But I did the show, and they all went against me and dropped me.” She emphasized the pain and awareness that comes from feeling pushed out of social dynamics.
In the wake of Tisdale’s essay sparking widespread attention, her publicist maintained that Tisdale was referring to a different mom group. However, Minkoff firmly believes that Tisdale was addressing the same group, particularly after comments from others, including Hilary Duff’s husband, Matthew Koma.
Addressing the topic of inclusivity, Minkoff acknowledged the complexities of group dynamics and maintained that Tisdale had a valid perspective. She also recounted her own experiences of feeling left out, sharing, “I’ve put so much effort and stress wanting to be part of something I’m not part of anymore, and I don’t care anymore.”
While Minkoff expressed her mixed feelings about the situation, noting she has known Hilary for over a decade and considers her “super sweet,” she ultimately sees this as an opportunity for an important conversation on friendship, inclusion, and validation among moms. By opening up about these experiences, both Tisdale and Minkoff have highlighted a relatable struggle that many face in their social circles, especially among parents.