EXCLUSIVE: Ashley James is known for being outspoken on This Morning, and she tells OK! that she has no plans to tone down her opinions – and it’s all down to her children
Ashley James, known for her fiery contributions on This Morning, has declared she won’t be dialling down her strong opinions anytime soon. Speaking to OK!, the 37 year old TV star and ex-Made In Chelsea sensation shares that she’s standing her ground for the sake of her kids.
Nowadays, Ashley is a familiar face on This Morning, teaming up with Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard to dissect the day’s news, champion women’s issues, and candidly discuss her journey through motherhood and mental health. “I feel very privileged to be on This Morning – it’s one of the most exciting daytime shows and I love everyone I work with,” Ashley gushed during our catch-up at the London premiere of Cirque Du Soleil’s latest spectacle, Corteo.
“I’ve learned so much from Cat and Ben – they’re amazing and have been so nice. I’ve known Ben for years but I’d never met Cat before doing the show and she’s got such a friendly, amazing energy. She treats everyone the same from the green room to the set and is a joy to work with. She’s also one of my childhood crushes! “.
Ashley isn’t one to shy away from confronting her fellow celebs on their more contentious opinions – something she takes pride in. From butting heads with OnlyFans sensation Bonnie Blue, who made waves last month by claiming to have slept with “1,000 men in one day”, to criticising influencer Andrew Tate, Ashley is eager to enlighten others about “toxic” viewpoints, reports the Mirror.
“I am really passionate about things like this,” she expresses. “I was really grateful for the opportunity to chat with Bonnie Blue [during an interview on This Morning]. She’s clearly causing a stir on social media and perhaps many adults and parents might not be clued up on what’s happening. So I believe it sparked a crucial discussion and I felt like she’d never really been questioned before. Yes, she’s been shamed, but I wasn’t really interested in shaming her or her promiscuity. I’m more worried about the message she’s broadcasting. It can be incredibly harmful and toxic.”
Ashley, who also appeared on Ex On The Beach, spoke out last year following her debate with Bonnie. She said: “My issue with Bonnie is not that she has decided to go on to OnlyFans or that she has decided to have sex with lots of different people, because who are any of us to judge?
“The issue I have with her – and based on the comments and feedback I received after our This Morning interview, the issue many people have with her – is that she has become a sort of poster girl for incel culture by reinforcing a patriarchal standard and expectation that guys need loads of sex, and if women don’t please them it is within a man’s rights to look elsewhere.”
Ashley, who shares two children – Alfie, four, and 23-month-old Ada – with her partner Tommy Andrews, says becoming a mother has made her even more determined to challenge harmful perspectives. “As a mum I’m probably more concerned about the future and how it’s looking,” she admits. “I feel like I’m worried not only for my daughter’s future but also for my son’s. In a world where there’s so much online influence, there’s a rise in misogyny, people like Andrew Tate, increased access to porn – I think we’d be silly not to worry about boys as much as girls.”
Ashley opened up about her personal growth, sharing: “I’ve been made to be passionate by other chapters in my life too. Like, I remember being single in my thirties and child-free and there was a lot of judgement, shame and social expectations around that before I met my partner. Naturally, anyone feels pressure as they get older and are single, but I really try to look into that and challenge it. I think we should never judge ourselves by outdated timelines. We are living in a time where we have choice and freedom to do whatever is right for us.”
Talking about her experiences with negativity, she reflected, “In a way, the better you do, the more you’re exposed to trolling and backlash. I’ve learned to not let other people’s issues impact me because I guess that’s what it is – trolling and stuff is their unhappiness projected on to you. I’ve learned not to let it bother me. I try to focus on raising women up and not just women. I like to think that I fight social injustice.”
Discussing the early days of motherhood, Ashley confessed that despite initially finding it tough and sometimes boring when her son Alfie was just a baby, saying, “I’d dread being on my own with him for long periods,” and “I felt like I’d ruined my life.” She now thoroughly enjoys spending quality time with her growing boy. Yet, Ashley admits she still relishes the chance to get dressed up every once in a while.
“I’m out with friends tonight,” she shares. “It’s important to remember that you deserve things as well because you give so much to the kids and to work. It’s hard to juggle it all, but you do your best.” Between managing her two little ones and standing up for what’s right on TV, we reckon Ashley has earned herself a night off.