'High School Musical's' Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu's 20th-year celebration draws mixed reactions

“High School Musical” alum Monique Coleman celebrated 20 years of friendship with longtime friend and former "Musical" co-star Corbin Bleu as she posted new photos of themselves on Instagram.

Coleman captioned the images, “20 years of loving this beautiful human.” She added, “Thx (Thanks) for sharing your husband with me, Sasha.” Coleman was referring to Bleu’s wife, Canadian actress Sasha Clements.

Fans were quick to react, with many getting nostalgic over the duo’s iconic on-screen roles as Taylor McKessie and Chad Danforth. Some even left comments saying, “Forever our Chad and Taylor.”

While many celebrated their long friendship and reunion, others found the caption unusual or confusing, especially the line about “sharing” her husband. The mixed reactions led the actress and dancer to clarify the intent behind her words.

Coleman explained, "There's no scandal here. No hidden meaning. Just deep love, friendship, inside jokes, and three people who have shared life, laughter, and support for a very long time."

 She blames the situation " to millennial boomer language" and that she only "meant (it) innocently and sincerely." 

In a separate video she addresses the criticism head on. “You guys, I'm literally dying right now reading these comments,” she said in jest. 

Coleman explained that she had just spent the weekend with Corbin and Sasha, and that Sasha herself encouraged them to have their photos taken. 

She emphasized that there was never any romantic history between her and Bleu, adding that they met when he was 15 and she was already an adult, calling the idea of anything beyond friendship “illegal.”

She said she felt people were misinterpreting a close, long-term friendship and turning it into something it wasn’t. Coleman explained that her comment about being a “work wife” was meant as a lighthearted joke, noting that Sasha is the “real wife” and she’s (Coleman's) the “third wheel.”

She later reiterated that she deleted the hashtags “#workwife #realwife” but kept the sentiment.

Sasha also responded warmly in the comments, writing, “like HE’S the third wheel ilysm.” She added, "Some people lose friends when they get married and I’m grateful that’s not the case here.”

Coleman further clarified the situation on her Instagram Stories, where she Facetimed Sasha and reposted her video with the hashtags “#platonicrelationshipsmatter” and a comment about people needing more hobbies and healthy platonic friendships.

Coleman, 45, and Bleu, 37, are widely known for their roles as Taylor McKessie and Chad Danforth in Disney’s "High School Musical" franchise. 

Their on-screen partnership became a fan-favorite as Chad, the best friend of Troy Bolton (Zac Efron), and Taylor, the best friend of Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens), started as reluctant allies in the first film before becoming one of the series’ most beloved couples.

The two also reunited onscreen as leads in the Lifetime holiday movie “A Christmas Dance Reunion.”