Hilary Duff Spoke About Her Need To ‘Friend Cleanse’ Months Before Ashley Tisdale Publicized Their Breakup

Hilary Duff touched on saying goodbye to friendships that no longer serve her months before her Disney Channel peer, Ashley Tisdale, wrote about leaving her "toxic" group of mom friends in a personal essay.

Hilary Duff, who rose to fame via her role in the sitcom "Lizzie McGuire," spoke with Jake Shane on a November episode of his "Therapuss" podcast about struggling to trust people at a young age. Later in the conversation, the "Younger" star detailed her "talent" for sniffing out a person's character almost instantly.

Hilary Duff Said It Doesn't Take Her Long To Know Which Kinds Of People She Wants In Her Circle

"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, 38, said in the previous episode, according to Us Weekly.

The singer and actress also explained that, growing up, she wasn't surrounded by many others in the public eye, calling it healthy for her to not be "spilling out the clubs with other teen stars and stuff."

Hilary Duff Says It's OK To 'Edit' Your Friendships

As the episode continued, Shane pressed Duff about the relationships within her mom group, to which Duff described herself as the "mom" of the circle. "I think that a lot of us hold that space for each other, like, to where we could come with problems, but I’m just very direct. Maybe a little too much sometimes," she said, revealing that she's not a fan of conflict. "That drives me crazy. It infiltrates every aspect of my life so I need to like handle my sh-t."

According to Duff, dealing with "friendship breakups" as an adult can be as painful as romantic breakups. However, the "How I Met Your Father" performer revealed that every now and then she has to "friend cleanse." She added, "It's OK to edit. But you feel like a bad person when you're doing it."

Hilary Duff Said She's Had To Reevaluate Certain Relationships In Her Life

Continuing, Duff revealed that having tough conversations with friends about expectations after a rocky patch can be challenging, calling it "overwhelming."

"I've had to do it a few times," she said. "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."

Duff's November conversation with Shane has resurfaced at an interesting time, as Duff's Disney peer, Ashley Tisdale, penned a personal essay for "The Cut" about leaving her "toxic" group of mom friends, which included Duff and Mandy Moore.

In the essay, Tisdale revealed that she eventually broke things off with her group of celebrity mom friends because it felt too "high school."

"Motherhood has enough challenges without having to wonder if the people around you are on your side," she added. "You deserve to go through motherhood with people who actually, you know, like you. And if you have to wonder if they do, here’s the hard-earned lesson I hope you’ll take to heart: It’s not the right group for you. Even if it looks like they’re having the best time on Instagram."

Duff Excited Pop Culture Fans With Release Of First Single In Over A Decade

According to a previous report from The Blast, Duff made headlines at the end of 2025 after releasing her first single, "Mature," in over a decade. She teased the single online, writing, "So happy this is finally yours to hear. Been keeping this one quiet too long."

In the feel-good track, Duff sings about her previous relationship with an older man. "Bet she loves when she hears you say / 'You're so mature for your age, babe,'" part of the lyrics read.

More Is Coming From Duff In 2026

 

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In a recent clip shared online, Duff teased a new song from her forthcoming album, "luck... or something," generating even more buzz around the 2000s icon. "I have no other choice but to stream," a user wrote.

Additional reports revealed that the Disney alum and mother of four had officially signed a new deal with Atlantic Records, which includes new music and a docuseries showcasing her journey back on stage.