NEED TO KNOW
Ashley Tisdale has announced that 11 years after tying the knot with husband, Christopher French, she is professionally changing her nameThe 40-year-old actress revealed her decision in a TikTok video on Monday, Nov. 17 ‘I just felt like it was time for people to know me for me,” she explained in the social media clip
Ashley Tisdale French is entering a new era!
The High School Musical alum, 40, announced in a TikTok video posted on Monday, Nov. 17, that she will be using her marital surname professionally from now on as she changed her social media handles to Ashley Tisdale French.
“I’ve been Ashley French for so long at home, but I really never changed [it] publicly because everyone knows me as Ashley Tisdale,” said Ashley, who tied the knot with husband Christopher French in 2014.
“But I just felt like it was time for people to know me for me and not just a character, or like a celebrity,” she explained.
“For so long, I have shared so much of my life on social media,” continued Ashley. “… At this point, you don’t know what’s real, what’s a bot. And everyone has something to say, and it might not be positive … I felt like, in order to protect my peace, I didn’t want to keep sharing in that way.”
As well as her name change, Ashley shared an update on her beauty company, Being Frenshe, inspired by her marital name, in the video.
Ashley Tisdale French with her husband Christopher and their two daughters Jupiter and Emerson.
Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort via Getty
Back in 2022, the actress told PEOPLE about the origin of the name. “When I was creating a blog and I knew it was going to be a very personal platform of mine, where I talked very openly and authentically about everything that I’d gone through. I was trying to think of the time in my life when I started this journey of learning about myself. And I really was inspired by my husband when we got married and him being sober,” she recalled.
“And, my married name is French. I always like to say, ‘I’m Ashley Tisdale in the business, but at home I’m Ashley French.’ And so I think for me, it was the first time I was really letting everybody in to see who I am as a person,” Ashley said.
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In September, the star posted a tribute to her husband, with whom she shares daughters Jupiter, 4, and 14-month-old Emerson, on Instagram to mark their 11th wedding anniversary.
“How was this 11 years ago?! 😭🥰❤️ Happy Anniversary my love @cmfrench,” she wrote at the time. “Best decision I have ever made, love of my freaking life!”