Celebrity Hilary Duff has formally acknowledged her ongoing “family drama” with older sister, Haylie Duff, while promoting her new single, “Mature.”
The admission surfaced in coverage in a recent Rolling Stone conversation and follows years of speculation about the alleged rift. Multiple outlets, including JustJared also point out the fact the sisters haven’t been photographed together publicly since 2019.
According to the International Business Times, the long-running chatter among fans has focused on whether Hilary’s husband, Matthew Koma, sits at the center of tensions. The outlet framed him as an “influential” new voice in the family dynamic, though Hilary herself did not name anyone.
A family divided
According to the reports from JustJared and Page Six, it is suggested that the sisters’ public silence dates back roughly five years, with little to no interaction on social media in that time. The pattern, mapped by fans and entertainment sites, fueled the feud narrative before Hilary stepped back into music recently.
“Finally I felt safe enough and comfortable in my own family to step outside and open that part of myself up again,” Duff said while discussing her return. She also noted she and fans have shared “complicated relationships… raising kids… divorces… family drama,” signaling the weight of what she’s addressing. JustJared noted those remarks came as she pushed “Mature.”
In the Page Six report, it is mentioned that the timeline shifted after Hilary’s 2019 wedding, the same year public appearances together reportedly stopped. Page Six also reported that there have even been conflicting claims about whether Haylie attended Hilary’s wedding ceremony at all, underscoring how murky the backstory might actually be.
Geography may be another cause
There is another theory, which is that distance and lifestyle have driven this division. Haylie moved her family to Texas during the pandemic years, and has been tied to Austin-based projects and property ever since, which could make a one-time closeness harder. Multiple sources including FOX Business and Mansion Global have documented Haylie’s Austin move and home listings.
However, as The Sun and International Business Times put it, the rumor most discussed online pins friction on Koma’s presence around Hilary. Separate coverage has shown Koma can be outspoken on social media, at times jumping in to defend his wife. E! News covered one example earlier this year, highlighting his quick clapback to a critical comment about Hilary’s appearance. None of this proves a cause, but it illustrates why his name keeps showing up in speculation.
Back to the music
I read that “Mature” is Duff’s first new single in a decade and that she’s signed with Atlantic Records, part of a larger creative restart that includes a docuseries.
People and the New York Post both mapped the comeback, and Billboard Canada spotlighted the song’s concept of her present self talking to her younger self.
As JustJared reported, Hilary’s words stop short of naming the root issue, but they raise the stakes beyond a simple sibling squabble. Page Six reported that representatives for the sisters didn’t respond to requests for comment.
The truth is, I’m surprised and disappointed to see a once tight-knit duo become a storyline like this, especially when so much of it plays out through absence. Fame used to hide this kind of family strain. Now it seems to live in plain sight.