Ashley Tisdale tried to give a little “let’s all calm down” energy on her Instagram Story this week and instead managed to set the internet completely on fire. The High School Musical star responded to backlash she’s been getting after what people saw as a tribute to conservative figure Charlie Kirk, and her words? Yeah, they did not land the way she probably hoped.
Ashley’s Post: Trying to Be the Peacemaker
On her Story, Ashley wrote: “It shouldn’t be controversial to say this, but even when we disagree or find someone’s views offensive, violence is never the answer.”
She followed it up by trying to remind people she’s still on the “right” side of history, adding: “And to be clear, I stand for equal rights for everyone. Women’s rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights. Everyone. I also support protecting reproductive rights and implementing common-sense gun laws.”
Basically, she wanted to be like, “Hey guys, I’m empathetic AND progressive,” but Twitter/X immediately treated her like she was Sharpay Evans tap-dancing for a fascist.
Social Media: From Dragging to Defending
The internet reactions are honestly unhinged. Some people thought Ashley was just saying the obvious. One person wrote, “idk i feel like showing empathy shouldn’t be something that causes outrage.”
But the majority? They came with claws. “Just ruined Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure for me, thanks a lot ashley.”Another tweet hit her with the class privilege critique: “‘Violence is never the answer,’ said the white famous girl. They don’t know how normal people are struggling to be alive right now!”
And the dragging only escalated. “So you had a Charlie Kirk tribute post and in the same breath have the absolute GALL to say THIS shit. Oh fuck off white girl. I take back every nice thing I said about you bitch.”
Others took it straight into politics. “So many so-called white liberals are beyond pathetic. White privilege really just trumps everything I guess. You cannot be against fascism AND commemorate a violent fascist.”
Then you’ve got the classic stan Twitter snark: “‘I’m not racist I have a black friends’ ass post.” And one user even clocked her wording: “She specifically didn’t say Black people as to not anger the right, by the way.”
Of course, there were defenders sprinkled in too, like the person who wrote: “Tributes to Christian people promoting a healthy lifestyle GET U FUCKING CANCELLED? This is probably the worst generation ever existed.”
