Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Jeffrey Mayer/UPI
Topics: Celebrity
Gregory Robinson
Ashley Tisdale and her best friend Austin Butler go way back. In fact, so far back that it turns out they’re actually related.
The High School Musical star, 37, and the Elvis actor, 31, have spoken about their deep connection in the past but it certainly came as a surprise to Tisdale, who 'almost cried', when finding out that they share a common relative.
Check out the moment here:
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In what was perhaps some foreshadowing, the pair starred together in the underrated 2009 sci-fi comedy, Aliens in the Attic, as brother and sister not long after they first met.
Two years later, the actors were reunited on-screen again for the High School Musical spin-off Disney Channel film, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure, with Butler appearing this time as her character’s love interest.
While the Once upon in Hollywood star is very private, the former Disney Channel star has shared a bunch of lovely tributes to her ‘twin’ over the years on social media.
To mark his 30th birthday in August 2021, Tisdale shared an Instagram post with the caption: “You’ve been my best friend since you were 15, so that’s 15 years strong of friendship!
"I am beyond proud of you and everything you’re accomplishing but most importantly proud of the person you are.”
She added: “You’ve been my closest friend through the years, you’re the type of friend that came over when I was crying on the floor from a horrible breakup and not only lifted me off the ground but brought my favorite candy.”
“I honestly didn’t think anyone would ever understand me like you.
"But then enter my husband, and you happily embraced him like a brother.”
She finished her post: “There's no one like you Austin, you're my twin born 7 years later.”
But, little did she know, there would be some truth to her words.
In November last year, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody star appeared on Ancestry’s YouTube series, 2 Lies & A Leaf, to learn more about her heritage.
And the mum-of-one was shocked to learn that she’s actually related to her bestie.
“Austin and I always say that we're like fraternal twins born very far apart because he's much younger and we always had that connection,” she said after correctly guessing that she was related to Butler.
It turns out that Butler is her 10th cousin once removed and they can both trace their lineage back to a man called Richard Scruggs, who lived between 1627-1669.
“What?!” Tisdale said. “Oh my God, no wonder we have such a connection, we’ve always said we were brother and sister, that is insane.”
She became visibly emotional and admitted: “I’m literally going to cry.
“He’s my best best friend, telling you, when we first met we were like brother and sister, from the minute we met.”
That is so wholesome.
Later on, Tisdale texted Butler, who was busy on-set, the news to which he replied: "No f***ing way."