Hilary and Haylie Duff are currently estranged, but the exact reason has not been shared publicly in detail by either sister. What exists right now is a mix of what Hilary has said in recent interviews, hints in her new music, and a lot of outside speculation.

What Hilary has actually said

In February 2026, Hilary confirmed that her new song “We Don’t Talk” is about her fractured relationship with Haylie and that not having her sister in her life is “the most lonely part” of her existence.

Key points from recent coverage:

  • Hilary has described the situation as an “emotional eviction” in connection with the song’s lyrics.
  • She has openly said she is not ready to share the specific reasons for the estrangement, keeping the core issue private.
  • She has framed it as part of a broader pattern of complicated family dynamics involving both her sister Haylie and their dad, Bob Duff.

So, in terms of confirmed, on‑the‑record information, all we really know is: they’re not speaking or not close right now, it’s deeply painful for Hilary, and she is choosing not to explain why in public.

Signs of distance people point to

Entertainment outlets and fan forums have pieced together a timeline of “signs” that suggested the relationship had cooled before Hilary spoke about it directly.

Commonly cited clues:

  1. No public appearances together since 2019
    • Coverage notes they have not been photographed together in several years, which is a sharp change from their earlier very close, public dynamic.
  1. Reduced social‑media interaction
    • Fans noticed far fewer likes, comments, and shared posts between the sisters, fueling early feud rumors.
  1. The “toxic mom group” essay & Ashley Tisdale
    • In early 2026, Ashley Tisdale wrote an essay about distancing herself from a “toxic mom group,” widely rumored online to include Hilary.
 * Haylie liked the essay and was later photographed out to dinner with Ashley, which many interpreted as a subtle sign that she might be siding against Hilary or at least comfortable with the narrative.

These are “context clues,” not proof of why they’re estranged, but they’re the main beats gossip sites and forums keep circling.

Possible causes vs. confirmed facts

Because this is a light “celebrity_gossip / trending topic” question, a lot of what people discuss online is theories rather than verified truth. Here’s how that breaks down.

Things that are confirmed

  • Hilary and Haylie were very close for years, worked together on projects like “Material Girls,” and talked openly about loving raising their kids alongside each other.
  • Their family background includes long‑running tension around their parents’ divorce and their dad blaming their fame for the marriage falling apart, which Hilary has alluded to as part of the family’s complicated emotional landscape.
  • Hilary’s new music addresses:
    • Her estrangement from Haylie (“We Don’t Talk”).
* Her complicated feelings about her father (“The Optimist”).

Theories that are not confirmed

Videos, blind‑item blogs, and fan threads have floated ideas like:

  • Long‑term sibling rivalry and uneven career success.
  • Tension involving their respective partners or perceived slights over loyalty and friend groups.
  • Political or lifestyle differences, especially around parenting or social circles.

These are speculations pulled from gossip videos and blind items, not statements from Hilary or Haylie. They might be partially true, totally wrong, or only a tiny piece of a larger, private story.

Why you won’t get a clean “this is why” answer (for now)

To answer your focus keyword, “why are Haylie and Hilary Duff estranged,” the honest, up‑to‑date answer is:

  • Hilary has confirmed they are estranged and that it is extremely painful for her.
  • She has deliberately chosen not to reveal the specific cause and has only processed it indirectly through lyrics and carefully worded interviews.
  • Public explanations online beyond that are mostly reading between the lines of:
    • Social‑media behavior.
    • Ashley Tisdale’s “toxic mom group” essay and Haylie’s visible support of it.
    • The long history of complicated Duff family dynamics.

So the best, most accurate summary is:

They’re estranged, Hilary is openly heartbroken about it, but neither sister has gone on record explaining the exact incident or issues that caused the break, and everything else you see is mostly fan and gossip‑media interpretation rather than confirmed fact.

TL;DR:
Right now, the real “why” is still private to Haylie and Hilary. We only know they’re not close, that it feels like an “emotional eviction” to Hilary, and that the situation is wrapped up in bigger, long‑running family complications and recent mom‑friend‑group drama rumors.

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