Celebs
In Mansfield, the singer tried the ultimate New England combo: New England clam chowder and Dunkin’ Munchkins.
Hilary Duff attends the Time100 Gala, celebrating the 100 most influential people in the world, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in New York. Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
Here’s how much Hilary Duff loves her New England fans: She tried clam chowder for us, people.
“New England, I love you for many, many reasons, but I don’t like clam chowder. I’m so scared,” said Duff, on stage at Xfinity Center in Mansfield Saturday night.
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Former Disney star Hilary Duff talks authenticity at Northeastern commencement
On her “The Lucky Me Tour,” Duff has been tasting surprise local fare, presumably found by her crew, at each stop.
In Mansfield, the singer tried the ultimate New England combo: New England clam chowder and Dunkin’ Munchkins. (Dunkin: You should probably make this an official combo meal.)
“I’m so scared there’s gonna be clam chowder in there,” she said visibly worried and pacing on the Mansfield stage, in an Instagram reel posted by People Magazine. “New England, I love you for many, many reasons, but I don’t like clam chowder. I’m so scared.”
In another video, posted by @HilaryTourInfo, we see someone named Ronan, presumedly from her crew, bring Duff a cup of white New England clam chowder, a spoon, and box of Dunkin Munchkins.
In a yellow tee and jeans, Duff kneels on stage, a cup of New England clam chowder and box of Dunkin Munchkins set before her.
“Picnic for one,” she said with a chuckle. “Just because it’s cute, I am gonna do it, but this is the craziest combination of foods ever. I do know that Dunks — is that what you guys call it here?”
The crowd whoops and cheers, some shouting “Dunks!” (a yes in New England-ish.)
“Dunks is from here… Ok, so I got some Munchkins. Yeah, it looks like someone dipped into this box. A little crew with some sticky fingers in here already.”
She says she’ll try the “chowdah,” then remembers: “Oh gosh, there was one other thing I was supposed to say tonight without an ‘r” in it and I forget what it was. Smaaaaht! Ya so smaaaaaht.”
The crowd cheers. (Translation: “We appreciate that you have recognized our culture.”)
She picks up the cup of chowder, swirling her spoon as the crowd cheers.
“What’s the square thing? A potato?” She asks the audience.
“Yes!” They scream back, eagerly awaiting the tast- test.
Duff closes her eyes and makes a “oh God gross”-face as she sticks her spoon in the cup, the crowd cheering her on.
She takes a bite, and … her eyes pop in delight!
“OK. The base is so good. The broth is so good. I got a little booger-thingy. It was small, but it’s fine. And the potato’s good. I like it.”
She takes a second bite, as the crow cheers.
“I need, like, a mesh strainer, and I would drink the soup, but not the clams….It’s wicked good.”
The crowd whoops. (Translation: One of us!)
She then takes a Munchkin out of the box. “Pray for me,” she says, tosses it in the air, attempts to catch it in her mouth, but misses.
“The pressure is horrible,” she says, picking up a second.
This time, she catches it in her mouth, raising both arms in the air, and pumping her fists as the crowd erupts into a roar, and the band plays a triumphant song.
“That was so good,” she says with a full mouth, chewing. “That was a big bite. It’s just gonna take me a second.”
Fans are loving it.
At a sold-out Madison Square Garden last week, Duff brought her kids on stage to try a New York slice. In Nashville, she ate chicken. In Philly, they gave her a PBR and a shot of Jim Beam, something locals call a “citywide special.”
@livenationphilly this IS what dreams are made of 🦋✨️🍻 @hilaryduff @Hilary Duff HQ #Hilaryduff #philly #citywide #fyp #concerts ♬ Murmurs from the Abyss – edivieira
In the age of Ozempic zombies and starving celebrities, this hit many on the internet as refreshingly human.
“Love love her and how she healed so many millennials”
“It looked like I was eating with a long time friend! She is lovely!”
“Why is going to her concerts like your hanging out with like 30k of your besties including her ”
“I love this.”
Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer. She can be reached at [email protected]. She tweets @laurendaley1, and Instagrams at @laurendaley1.
Lauren Daley is a longtime culture journalist. As a regular contributor to Boston.com, she interviews A-list musicians, actors, authors and other major artists.
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