Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAshley Walters, a star of the crime drama Top Boy, revealed he was confronted by parents who believed the show glamourised violence, prompting him to question its impact. Walters stated that despite these concerns, the show's core objective was to authentically represent the lives of drug dealers and gang violence in a fictional Hackney estate. He emphasised that Top Boy aimed for a truthful portrayal, believing it had a significant impact and raised awareness about this often-underrepresented aspect of British culture. Walters highlighted the show's role in facilitating British actors' and musicians' success in the US by providing a reference point for a more diverse understanding of the UK beyond stereotypes like Downton Abbey. The actor previously acknowledged that while he scrutinised creator Ronan Bennett, it would have been ideal for a Black writer to tell the stories featured in Top Boy, which predominantly featured a Black cast. In fullAshley Walters confronted by parents of Top Boy fans: ‘This is bad for our children’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Ashley Walters questioned impact of hit show after talking to concerned parents
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAshley Walters, a star of the crime drama Top Boy, revealed he was confronted by parents who believed the show glamourised violence, prompting him to question its impact. Walters stated that despite these concerns, the show's core objective was to authentically represent the lives of drug dealers and gang violence in a fictional Hackney estate. He emphasised that Top Boy aimed for a truthful portrayal, believing it had a significant impact and raised awareness about this often-underrepresented aspect of British culture. Walters highlighted the show's role in facilitating British actors' and musicians' success in the US by providing a reference point for a more diverse understanding of the UK beyond stereotypes like Downton Abbey. The actor previously acknowledged that while he scrutinised creator Ronan Bennett, it would have been ideal for a Black writer to tell the stories featured in Top Boy, which predominantly featured a Black cast. In fullAshley Walters confronted by parents of Top Boy fans: ‘This is bad for our children’Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
