Ashley TisdaleFrench unexpectedly took the internet by storm with her essay. People are speculating which famous women were the “mean girls” group Tisdale, 40, inspired to write her article for The Cut. Singer, Meghan Trainor, was accused of being one of them and addressed it. Hilary Duff‘s husband, Matthew Koma, took a dig at The High School Musical star on Instagram. But there is another inspiration for Tisdale’s writing.
Ashley Tisdale Confirmed Psychologist Dr. Noelle Santorelli Inspired Her
Podcasts are covering the celebrity news, but one of them has an intimate connection with the story. “The Real Pain Behind That ‘Toxic Moms’ Essay” featured Dr. Noelle Santorelli, the psychologist who inspired Tisdale, as a guest. She believes the story resonates with a large audience because moms, who seek community, can relate.
Dr. Santorelli revealed she commented on Tisdale’s article. “[Tisdale] commented back to me that it was one of my posts that she saw that made her feel like she wasn’t alone in this,” the therapist said. She noticed her explanation of the cycle of these unhealthy mom groups was discussed in Tisdale’s article. “She said it made her feel not alone, and this can be happening,” the podcast guest explained.
“As a culture, right, we’ve really struggled to be able to communicate effectively,” the psychologist claimed. “We are really struggling with the ability to rupture and repair.” Dr. Santorelli’s goal is to teach her clients how to repair after conflict. The psychologist wasn’t surprised to see Duff’s husband’s public response to Tisdale.
He posted The Cut’s logo and added, “When You’re The Most Self Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth” to his Instagram Story. Glee actress, Becca Tobin, appeared on the “LadyGang” podcast and addressed this. “Now let me tell you, I don’t think there’s any loser…there’s no loser in this group, to me, not one except for Hilary Duff’s husband,” Tobin said. “I think it is so gross when husbands jump in and get petty. Especially since Ashley did not name names.”
However, the psychologist has a different perspective. “Of course, he is,” she said. “This is what I see every single day in my practice. Mom drama is family systems’ issues. The drama that’s going on in these mom groups is expanding to entire family units.” Moms try to support each other with carpooling and extracurricular activities for children. This requires them to stay in the group to keep their children’s place in their community. In the end, Dr. Santorelli is thankful Tisdale shared her story because it’s a common problem. However, she’s not a fan of the casual use of “toxic” in today’s culture.
This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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