what happened with hilary duff and her sister

February 21, 2026

Hilary Duff and her sister Haylie are widely believed to be estranged right now, but neither has given a detailed, point‑by‑point explanation of “what happened” – only hints, songs, and carefully worded comments.

What happened with Hilary Duff and her sister?

The short version

The sisters were very close and often worked together in the 2000s.
Over the last several years, they’ve drifted apart and are now estranged , according to Hilary’s own recent comments and her new music.

The exact cause hasn’t been confirmed publicly, but fans and tabloids point to long‑running family tensions, different life choices, and a few specific “pop culture moments” that fueled feud rumors.

Timeline: from inseparable to distant

Early years and “inseparable” phase

In the 2000s, Hilary and Haylie acted and made music together (for example, in projects like “Material Girls” and joint songs), and were often described as very close sisters. Public coverage from that era presented them as a tight unit, frequently appearing side by side at events and in interviews.

Slow drift over the 2010s

As both women focused on their own careers and families, they appeared together in public less often. That’s normal for many siblings, but fans noticed the shift because they had once been constantly side by side.

By around 2019–2020

Entertainment outlets and fans point out that Hilary and Haylie have not been photographed together since around 2019/2020 , and their social‑media interaction (likes, comments, posts about each other) dropped off.

This visible distance, plus gossip accounts on TikTok/YouTube, started the idea of a feud even before either sister commented directly.

The recent “confirmation”: Hilary’s own words and music

New album and “We Don’t Talk”

In 2026, Hilary returned to music with an album (reported as titled along the lines of “Luck… or Something”) that includes tracks about complicated family dynamics.

One song, often cited under the title “We Don’t Talk” , is widely read as being about Haylie. Lyrics described in press coverage show Hilary wondering when and how the distance started, and referring to an “emotional eviction,” suggesting a painful cutoff rather than a casual drift.

Interviews and “estranged” status

In recent interviews tied to the album release, Hilary has openly acknowledged that her relationship with Haylie is strained and distant , using language that entertainment outlets summarize as a “rift” or “estranged relationship.”

She talks more broadly about complex family issues and says that just because you’re born into a family doesn’t mean the relationship will always stay intact, and that you can only control “your side and your path.”

Some coverage and commentary channels go so far as to say she has confirmed an estrangement , although Hilary still avoids spilling concrete, gossipy details and frames it more as a painful but human situation.

Why do people think there’s a feud?

Here’s where confirmed facts end and fan/press interpretation begins.

1. Public distance and lack of interaction

No recent photos together for several years, fewer posts about each other, and very minimal public interaction have been widely noted. They still reportedly follow each other on Instagram, but the vibe is “quiet distance,” not the old “inseparable duo.”

2. Political and lifestyle differences (speculated)

Some articles and forum threads point to possible political and lifestyle differences. Haylie has been described in gossip discussions as more right‑leaning and now lives with her family in Texas, while Hilary is generally perceived as more liberal and LA‑based.

These differences are speculation from fans and commentators , not something either sister has clearly laid out as “this is why we don’t talk.”

3. The Ashley Tisdale “toxic mom group” moment

In early 2026, speculation intensified when Ashley Tisdale published an essay about leaving a “toxic mom group,” which outlets linked to a group Hilary was reportedly part of.

Haylie later liked that essay and was seen out to dinner with Ashley, which many read as a subtle “side‑taking” move and further proof that things were off between the sisters.

Again, this is an interpreted signal: neither Hilary nor Haylie has gone on record saying “we’re fighting over this.”

4. Tabloid and YouTube commentary

YouTube channels and entertainment blogs have been doing “deep dives” on supposed sister competition, career jealousy, and family drama , often stitching together old clips, social‑media behavior, and anonymous forum posts.

These videos are trending in the celebrity gossip space, but a lot of the content is theory, not verified fact. Hilary’s own statements stay much vaguer and more emotional, focusing on hurt and distance rather than calling out specific incidents.

What’s actually confirmed vs rumor?

Confirmed (from Hilary / major outlets)

They were once very close and worked together often.
They haven’t been publicly seen together in years and interact less online.

Hilary has new songs that are explicitly about painful family relationships, including a sister she “doesn’t talk” to.

In interviews, she acknowledges a “complicated,” “distant,” or “strained” relationship with Haylie and talks about accepting that some family bonds change.

Rumor / unconfirmed

Exact reasons for the estrangement (politics, parenting styles, partners, specific fights, etc.).
Any claim that either sister is definitively “to blame.”
Narratives of long‑term jealousy or competition as the core reason, which mostly come from commentators rather than the sisters themselves.

Hilary’s own approach has been to express the grief and confusion of losing closeness with a sibling, without turning it into a detailed exposé.

Different viewpoints people have

Because the full story isn’t public, fans and commentators fill in the gaps in different ways.

“Normal but sad family drift” view : Some people see this as a familiar situation where adult siblings grow apart for many reasons—politics, partners, boundaries—and think both women are just trying to protect their mental health and families.

“Some big blow‑up happened” view : Others are convinced there was a major argument or betrayal, pointing to the “emotional eviction” language and the Ashley Tisdale essay moment as evidence of something more dramatic.

“We don’t know and shouldn’t pry” view : A decent chunk of commenters point out that, no matter how public they are, the sisters are dealing with a private family rupture, and that it’s okay for them not to spell everything out for the internet.

Quick fact table: Hilary vs Haylie situation

[7][9][10][5] [8][1][10] [1][9][10][7] [3][9][10][5][7] [10][7] [9][5][7] [1] [7][9][10][1]

Aspect	Hilary Duff	Haylie Duff
Public stance on relationship	Has spoken about a complicated, distant relationship with her sister in interviews and songs.	Has not given detailed public comments responding to the new music or interviews as of early 2026.
Recent joint public appearances	None widely documented in several years; not photographed together since around 2019–2020.
Key recent “signal”	Released songs about not talking to a sister and discussed family fractures in press.	Liked Ashley Tisdale’s “toxic mom group” essay and was seen out with her afterward, interpreted by some as subtle commentary.
Living situation	Based in Los Angeles area with her husband and kids; balancing acting, music, and family life.	Lives in Texas with her partner and children, focusing on family life and selective projects.
Level of online interaction	Still reportedly follow each other, but rarely post about or interact with each other publicly.

Bottom line

Right now the most accurate way to put it is: Hilary Duff and her sister Haylie are not on close, speaking terms, and Hilary has channeled that pain into her new music and interviews, but neither sister has publicly laid out a detailed “this is exactly what happened” story.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.