Hilary Duff is defending explicit lyrics in her new song, “Roommates,” responding to criticism that she is creating music inappropriate for her young children. The former Disney Channel star addressed the backlash during an appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, stating she wasn’t concerned by the reactions and isn’t composing songs for 7-year-olds.
The song, released January 15, 2026, as the second single from her sixth studio album, Luck… or Something, features lyrics referencing pornography and masturbation, a departure from the family-friendly image she cultivated during her time on the Disney Channel’s Lizzie McGuire. Duff acknowledged the lyrics were intended to be provocative. “I think that probably my initial reaction was like, ‘Oh, they just haven’t, like, evolved yet.’ And I don’t care at all,” she said, according to Fox News.
Duff further clarified that the song is not autobiographical, but rather a reflection on the challenges of maintaining passion in a long-term relationship. “It’s that ache for a wilder, freer time—before the days were swallowed by carpools, budget talks, grocery runs and letting old or new insecurities slip in,” she explained in an Instagram post about the song’s meaning, as reported by ELLE. She described the song as “meant to be polarizing,” and a “plea” that she believes resonates with women.
The 38-year-old singer collaborated with her husband, Matthew Koma, on Luck… or Something. Duff emphasized the importance of their partnership in the creative process, telling Interview magazine she wanted the album to be a solely collaborative effort. “I was like, ‘It has to just be me and you,’” she said. “The most honest stuff came from that because he has a front row to my life and everything I’ve experienced.”
Duff’s return to music comes after a period of focusing on family and stepping away from the spotlight following her early 2000s success. After releasing her album Dignity in 2007, she didn’t release another until Breathe In. Breathe Out. in 2015. She also pursued independent film and television roles and prioritized motherhood after welcoming her first child in 2012. She now has four children: 13-year-old Luca and daughters Banks (7), Mae (4), and Townes (1).
