The Diary of a CEO

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

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more about the inside world of acting, you'll definitely enjoy our conversation with Cole Sprouse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XP9J3UyTUo From Asher D to Top Boy, prison to fame, Ashley Walters refuses to be told what he can or can’t do. In this new episode Steven sits down with rapper and actor, Ashley Walters. 00:00 Intro 01:37 😢 Ashley Walters discusses his troubled childhood, trauma, and anger issues, leading to a negative attitude and reckless behavior. 04:46 🧠 Walters delves into his therapy experiences and the impact of his absent father on his self-esteem and relationships. 11:06 💔 Walters reflects on his deep desire for his absent father's approval and how it shaped his self-worth and fear of rejection. 15:32 🎥 Ashley Walters shares a poignant story about his father's last days, his own obsession with dying young, and the emotional impact of his father's death. 23:41 😔 Walters hints at unresolved grief and the struggle to cope with his father's loss, even after 18 years. 24:28 🌌 Ashley Walters believes in the universal law and manifestation, feeling that what he gives, he eventually receives. He attributes his success to this belief. 27:14 🚀 Ashley admits to abusing his celebrity status, making reckless decisions, and hurting his first partner, resulting in two children. He acknowledges his past ego-centric behavior. 32:28 🧡 Ashley reflects on the last two weeks with his father before he passed away, gaining a better understanding of himself and his father's impact on him. 37:45 🎭 Ashley attributes his success to his charm, people skills, humility, and maintaining good relationships within the entertainment industry. 47:02 🌟 Ashley describes the rocky and unstable nature of the entertainment industry, where rejection is frequent, but his drive and motivation come from turning those rejections into fuel for success. 48:58 😶 Ashley Walters prefers the opportunity to try rather than being told he can't do something. He values the chance to bring his ideas to the table and learn from failure. 50:09 🎬 Ashley Walters overcame skepticism about directing by making a short film after being told he lacked experience. This experience led him to discover his passion for directing. 51:51 🤝 Ashley advises students to embrace their unique life journeys and not seek to replicate his own path, which includes hardships like prison and loss. 54:47 💔 The pandemic forced Ashley Walters to confront himself, his flaws, and the importance of communication in his relationship with his wife. It was a challenging time but led to self-awareness. 01:00:53 🗣️ Ashley recognizes the limitations of the voice in his head, which can sometimes lead to poor decisions. He emphasizes the importance of seeking outside perspectives and avoiding impulsive choices based on emotion. 01:12:18 😌 Ashley Walters believes in taking action and not just talking about problems, inspired by his mother's practical approach. 01:13:39 😔 Ashley Walters discusses the challenges of bridging the gap with his partner, who may struggle to understand his background and emotional complexities. 01:14:47 🧔 Ashley reflects on his past failures as a father, acknowledging that he wasn't fully present for his older children due to career priorities. 01:16:02 😞 Ashley expresses concern about the generational impact of his distant relationship with his own father and how it may affect his relationship with his children. 01:17:20 Ad break 01:18:25 🎬 Ashley Walters journey with Top Boy 01:31:20 😢 Ashley Walters shares his thoughts about the final season of "Top Boy," 01:36:27 🌍 "Top Boy" has helped opening doors for a new type of shows. 01:38:41 ❤️ Ashley Walters would use his last phone call to tell his children that he loves them, emphasizing the importance of expressing love. 01:37:45 🙌 The last guest's question Follow Ashley: Instagram: https://bit.ly/3RfAyI9 Twitter: https://bit.ly/48f3PZt My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook Join this channel to get access to perks: https://bit.ly/3Dpmgx5 Follow me: Instagram: http://bit.ly/3nIkGAZ Twitter: http://bit.ly/3ztHuHm Linkedin: https://bit.ly/41Fl95Q Telegram: http://bit.ly/3nJYxST Sponsors: Shopify: https://bit.ly/3Zf4qpQ Wework: https://we.co/ceoworks Huel: https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsbo

Ashley WaltersguestSteven Bartletthost

Sep 13, 20231h 43mWatch on YouTube ↗

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Ashley Walters Reveals Pain, Redemption And The Real Story Behind Top Boy

Ashley Walters opens up about a childhood marked by an absent, alcoholic father, street role models and early fame that collided with deep anger, self‑doubt and brushes with the law. He explains how his father’s death in 2005 shattered his spiritual compass, fuelled years of ego, infidelity and self‑destruction, and still affects him today because he never truly grieved. Walters connects these wounds to his drive, perfectionism and success in both music (So Solid Crew) and acting, culminating in his career‑defining role as Dushane in Top Boy.
He reflects on rebuilding himself through therapy, fatherhood, and a long‑term relationship that forces him to learn emotional communication he never saw growing up. Walters also details the creative battles behind the final season of Top Boy, the responsibility he and Kano feel to represent their community truthfully, and how the show has shifted global perceptions of Black British life.
Throughout, he wrestles with forgiveness—of his father, of himself, and of others—while emphasizing preparation, people skills, and integrity as the real engines of his longevity, more than any vague notion of “talent.”

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Unresolved childhood abandonment can quietly dictate adult self‑worth and behaviour.

Walters links his father’s absence and chaotic appearances to a lifelong belief that he’s “not good enough,” driving anger, people‑pleasing and an obsession that he’d die young. This internalised rejection showed up as aggression, risk‑taking, crime and self‑sabotage—even while he was succeeding publicly. He underscores that recognising the root (abandonment, rejection) is essential to changing how you treat yourself and others.

If you don’t consciously choose role models, you’ll unconsciously copy whoever’s closest.

In the vacuum left by his father, Walters gravitated to local dealers and “bad boys” who became substitute dads. Joining So Solid wasn’t initially about music; it was about belonging to a ‘gang’ of older men who appeared to love and protect him. He shows how powerful the need for a father figure is—and how easily it can steer you into destructive environments under the guise of family.

Avoided grief and trauma will resurface as ego, recklessness and relationship damage.

After his father died while he was filming Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Walters flew back for the funeral for one day and immediately returned to set, never really grieving. He says he “went off the rails”: drinking more, numbing himself, cheating repeatedly, and fathering two children outside his relationship. He frames these years as a direct consequence of unprocessed loss and a belief that “you only live once,” which he is “still paying the price for now.”

Your inner voice can be your worst adviser; outsource big decisions.

Walters describes the voice in his head as “a mug” and “very vengeful,” responsible for some of his worst decisions when driven by anger, fear or jealousy. He now deliberately seeks external perspectives—calling his mum, speaking to his wife or therapist—before acting on intense emotions. His rule of thumb: don’t make big moves in emotional states; get grounded through conversation first.

People skills and integrity create ‘invisible PR’ that sustains a long career.

Walters credits his longevity less to raw talent and more to how he treats people: being humble off‑camera, accessible to his community, and genuinely helpful to others. That reputation means when he makes mistakes—public or private—industry figures and audiences still support him. He calls this “invisible PR”: how you show up for people over years determines who recommends you, protects you and calls you when opportunities emerge.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

I was obsessed with the fact that I was gonna die young.

— Ashley Walters

I wanted to hurt people the way I was hurt.

— Ashley Walters

The voice in my head is a mug… he’s made me make some terrible decisions.

— Ashley Walters

Hurt people hurt people. If you can forgive, you’re doing yourself a great favor.

— Ashley Walters

People don’t understand, we go hard for that show… and we faced a lot of resistance.

— Ashley Walters

Childhood trauma, fatherlessness and substitute role models on the streetsGrief, his father’s death and the long‑term impact on his behaviourSuccess and self‑destruction: prison, So Solid Crew, ego and infidelityTherapy, mental health, the inner critical voice and forgivenessCareer evolution: acting craft, directing, people skills and Kingdom academyThe making, cancellation and revival of Top Boy, plus creative conflictsFatherhood, relationships, emotional communication and breaking generational cycles

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