Ashley Walters: The Unheard TRUTH About Top Boy! "Me & Kano Didn't Have The Greatest Time"

September 14, 2023Ashley Walters mindset psychology success relationships

TL;DR

Ashley Walters overcame childhood trauma, an absent father, and anger issues to build a successful career in entertainment
His father's death profoundly shaped his worldview and taught him valuable lessons about legacy and connection
Ashley attributes his success to believing in universal law and manifestation, turning what he gives out back into his life
He initially abused his celebrity status and made reckless decisions but eventually developed humility and better relationship skills
The entertainment industry requires resilience to handle constant rejection, which Ashley uses as fuel for motivation
Ashley values charm, people skills, and maintaining authentic relationships as keys to longevity in a volatile industry

Episode Recap

Ashley Walters sits down with Steven to discuss his journey from a troubled childhood to becoming a successful rapper and actor. Growing up with significant trauma and an absent father, Ashley struggled with anger issues and reckless behavior that nearly derailed his life. Through therapy and self-reflection, he began to understand how his father's absence impacted his self-esteem, relationships, and constant need for approval and validation.

A pivotal moment came when Ashley's father passed away. In the weeks before his death, Ashley spent meaningful time with his father and gained deeper understanding of their relationship and his father's influence on his life. Even 18 years later, Ashley acknowledges that this grief remains unresolved in many ways, but it fundamentally shaped his perspective on life and success.

Ashley credits his rise to fame to his belief in universal law and manifestation. He operates from the principle that what you give to the world eventually comes back to you. This philosophy guided his career decisions and helped him navigate the entertainment industry's unpredictability. However, he is candid about abusing his celebrity status in early years, making reckless decisions and hurting people close to him, particularly his first partner with whom he has two children. This period of ego-centric behavior eventually gave way to greater maturity and self-awareness.

In the entertainment industry, Ashley has learned that success comes from more than just talent. He emphasizes the importance of charm, genuine people skills, humility, and building authentic relationships with colleagues and industry professionals. The entertainment world is inherently unstable and rejection is constant, but Ashley has learned to transform rejection into motivation rather than allowing it to defeat him.

Ashley also touches on his experience working in Top Boy and hints at complicated dynamics with other cast members like Kano. Despite these challenges, he refuses to be constrained by what others tell him he can or cannot do. His philosophy centers on preferring the opportunity to attempt something rather than accepting limitations imposed by others.

Throughout the conversation, Ashley demonstrates how understanding your own psychological patterns, particularly those rooted in childhood trauma and family dynamics, can be instrumental in achieving success. His journey from Asher D the rapper to Ashley Walters the accomplished actor and speaker illustrates the power of personal development, resilience, and maintaining integrity in a field known for its cutthroat nature.