Ashley Tisdale is officially stepping into a new era, complete with a professional name change.
The actress revealed she wanted her fans to know her by a name that isn’t just “a character or a celebrity.”
Netizens had mixed reactions to her decision, with some saying, “Good for her.”
But others said “patriarchy wins again” with her name change.
Ashley Tisdale is officially stepping into a new era, complete with a professional name change
40-year-old Ashley explained her decision to go by her marital name professionally.
The High School Musical star is married to music composer Christopher French and has welcomed two daughters, Jupiter, 4, and Emerson, 13 months, with him.
The actress is currently planning to expand her Frenshe wellness brand and focus on her recently launched website, By Ashley French.
As part of her latest professional endeavors, Ashley explained that she wanted her fans to start knowing her as Ashley French.
She explained that most of the world knew her as Ashley Tisdale after she gained stardom. But professionally, she didn’t go by her marital name after tying the knot with Christopher.
The actress is currently planning to expand her Frenshe wellness brand and focus on her recently launched website By Ashley French
“I’ve been Ashley French for so long at home,” she explained in a November 17 video on social media.
“But I’ve never really changed [my name] publicly because everybody knows me as Ashley Tisdale,” she continued. I just felt like it was time for people to know me for me, and not just for a character or a celebrity.”
Now that she’s diving deep into her wellness brand, she said she “has so much to talk about” regarding her personal life, including her experiences of “being in [her] 40s” and “being a parent.”
The Disney Channel alum said she’s rethinking her presence online because “Instagram has changed a lot.”
“At this point, you don’t know what’s real and what’s a bot. Everyone always has something to say, and it might not be positive — not that I want to block out the negativity,” she explained. “But I felt like in order to protect my peace, I didn’t want to keep sharing that way.”
The High School Musical star said she wanted her fans to know her by a name that isn’t just “a character or a celebrity”
Netizens had mixed reactions to her message, with one saying, “I love it though! Ashley French is just as perfect as Ashley Tisdal [sic].”
“I understand the identity thing in my own way. I’m a stay-at-home mom, and it seems like that’s all I am. Mom. I used to ride horses, fish, go shopping, etc. I haven’t done that in over 6 years,” said another. “I’m glad you’re getting to be your true self in front of everyone! You’re more than Sharpay or Candace!”
“I LOVE this new brand…you’re amazing! I think it’s important for people to see and understand that you’re just a PERSON above all else. This is so so cool!” one said.
On the other hand, naysayers wrote, “So boring seeing another woman take their husband’s last name. The patriarchy wins again.”
“Am I supposed to care about this?” one asked.
Christopher proposed to the actress on top of the Empire State Building in New York City
Ashley and Christopher exchanged wedding vows in a bohemian-style outdoor ceremony in California on September 8, 2014.
Their nuptials took place a year after the musician proposed to the actress on top of the Empire State Building in New York City.
The Phineas and Ferb actress spoke about the “key” to their successful decade-long marriage earlier this year.
“No matter what in life, things change,” she told People in July. “I think the biggest thing is to always just try to stay on the same page throughout that.”
“Communication is key to everything,” she added. “That’s a big one for us.”
Netizens had mixed reactions to her announcement on TikTok
@ashleytisdalefrenchA quick check-in 🤍♬ original sound – AshleyTisdaleFrench
After tying the knot, the couple welcomed their firstborn child in March 2021, which gave them several years to explore married life together before becoming parents.
“We definitely had a really good foundation of years to just learn about each other before having kids, which I think is so important because just kids change everything,” she added.
The He Said She Said actress said she also believes “timing is everything” and that she and her husband found each other “at the right time.”
“So now she’s Ashley Twasdale,” one commented online
