She's Gone Viral Again! Ash Tyson Tells All
Ash Tyson is the it girl of TikTok comedy (149.8k followers). She racks up viral videos like they're a plate of American pancakes: one after another. We chatted about ADHD, autism & stand-up.
Ash Tyson is the it girl of TikTok comedy. Thanks to her broad imagination, she now has 149.8k followers. She racks up viral videos like they’re a plate of American pancakes: one after another, with her unique brand of awkward humour. Although… Ash is actually from Kent.
She brings pure joy, creating comic scenarios that are both believable and ridiculous. And she dares to express more of her personality than other creators, which makes for authentic videos that are just funnier.
We chatted a lot about ADHD and autism. That’s right, her brain’s as faulty as mine. Neurodivergence shaped her comedy voice, but she also told me it’s creating barriers as she tries to enter the world of stand-up. I wonder if any of my (UK-based) readers could help.
Ash is incredibly supportive and warm. And she speaks with an instant familiarity echoing a certain Rosalie Minnitt: I’m waiting on a collab. But before that inevitability – a chin wag with Ash Tyson.
*Audio below the article
How did you feel when you made your first video?
I felt a bit daft because I’m from a very small town.
People from small towns will tell you that doing any kind of performance is cringey. But I also thought I’d get used to it. I find there are things you can get away with in front of an audience, online or otherwise, that you wouldn’t in everyday life.
I always knew I wanted to be a content creator, comedian or actress. So, I had to bite the bullet one day.
Are there other performers in your family?
I don’t come from a performing family at all.
I think my will to express myself and to have people perceive those expressions comes from having parents who were drug addicts. I put on a lot of shows when I was younger to get people’s attention, and to have another world to escape into. That was my armour growing up.
My nan got me into a performing arts school when I was around 4. I’d go to my classes and shows there and feel seen. I was quite a neglected child, and it made me feel like I had something to bring to the table. The staff there told her I was a natural actress. I always felt more comfortable performing than being myself.
“I’ve had people say they don’t know how I can make the videos or do stand-up, but I don’t know how they can stand around and make small talk.”
Me neither, I get very tired.
Yeah, I honestly feel exhausted. I used to do a very corporate job and I’d get so burnt out having to talk about what happened at the weekend, or about how so-and-so is doing a half-marathon. Chatting at the printer, chatting over coffee. I didn’t know what body language and posture to have, standing waiting for the paper to print.
We did “hot desking,” so I was sitting next to someone new every day. I had to work out what they wanted from the conversation and mould into that.
It can often be not knowing what to say, but it’s also just boring.
It is. People used to say things to me about my ADHD that I thought were a joke. I didn’t think they could be serious. “I do that, though. I get distracted too.” “I’ve broken 5 phones this morning. It’s normal.” They thought because they do some of the things I do, it must be normal. I thought maybe they have ADHD too.
They think everybody wants to fit in. They’re saying, “No, no, you fit in. You’re like me.” But I don’t mind not fitting in sometimes.
Absolutely. It would’ve been so much better for them to say, “We like that you’re different.” Colleagues would say they didn’t notice when I did things differently, and it felt invalidating.
I wish they’d said “You are a bit of a freak and we love it.”
Yeah, ha-ha.
A lot of your videos are about conversations. What kind of conversations do you like to have?
I like to have conversations where neither party is acting. Conversations that don’t play by a rule book. In my corporate job, I struggled with professionalism and etiquette. Some questions come with the expectation that you ask the question back. Says who?
Instead, I like conversations where anything goes and nobody takes anything personally, unless I made a personal comment. I love speaking with other neurodivergent friends where you’re talking over each other and both losing your train of thought.
“Neurotypical people speak in questions, and neurodivergent people speak in statements. Neurodivergent people tell each other about themselves, and assume that everyone else will do the same without having to be asked.”
With neurotypical people, I feel like I give loads of myself to them, but then I don’t ask anything back.
I saw you borrowed a book from the library about autism. What are your feelings?
I did, ha-ha. When I was being diagnosed with ADHD, they asked me autism related questions as well. But I told them I wasn’t autistic because I’m so friendly. I didn’t realize I struggle with eye contact and putting myself in other people’s shoes, because I could do both, but it was very uncomfortable.
It’s obvious now, looking back at my childhood. I avoided lots of activities. I’d ask my friends if their faces ached in social settings as much as mine. I was doing the biggest facial expressions that I could possibly do, to make people understand me.
With my videos, people started commenting, “autistic queen.” Autistic people were messaging me saying they saw so much of themselves in me, and that I made them feel like they could be more authentic. I didn’t think that was how I was coming across, because I had the wrong impression of autistic people.
“The turning point was understanding the role that masking plays in autism.”
I did the RAADs-R quiz, which is for adults with suspected autism who, through masking, have escaped a diagnosis in childhood. My score was off the charts. The quiz made me realize how much my struggle with the symptoms was a secret. Something I kept to myself.
I really struggle with foods, i.e. unexpected textures and certain flavours. But also with friendships, keeping in touch, and even wanting to spend time with other people. I mainly prefer to be alone. Discounting a handful of people who do make me feel re-charged.
Every single night since I was 11, I’d read about psychology to try and understand people. So, I thought I understood, but that’s not how neurotypical people come to understand each other.
I had my own prejudices about autism. People in the mental health field would tell me they thought I was autistic multiple times at university, and I denied it. I thought it was the same as admitting I couldn’t have a good conversation.
I can relate to that. A lot of my old conversations in therapy were about not understanding what people wanted from me, and feeling like I was being perceived wrong. But I never saw it as autism back then. If I could, I’d leave you with a quiz after this to rate how well I’ve done. Because I obsess over how I’m coming across.
Me too. Even with friends I’ve known for years. I still think “I’ve ruined it all now.”
I have no idea how people perceive me. I really want to know. I’ve spent my life doing personality quizzes, to figure that out and to figure out who I am.
I started to see the beauty in autism. A lot of my favourite people and favourite artists have autistic traits.
“I think autistic people bring most of the colour to the world. They’re not worker bees who keep the world moving, but we inspire, and I’m proud to be a part of that.”
What would you like to achieve?
I’d love to have my own mockumentary with the BBC. It’s really specific, but I’ve wanted that since I was 13.
I’d also like to do more stand-up, but I’m struggling with the circuit, the socializing, and even travelling on my own. I find it hard to show up at venues by myself and talk to people. I never know who to sit with.
I saw a clip of your stand-up; you were doing well. The crowd were liking it. How many gigs have you done?
It might be 5. My struggles are frustrating because whenever I do a gig, I get great feedback. I did a London Gig in October, my 3rd time on stage. And I couldn’t write beforehand. Probably my ADHD. I couldn’t bring myself to do any.
I said to myself, “You’ve been given an opportunity and you’re going up there with professional comedians. You’ve skipped steps because of your social media following.” They gave me 10 minutes, and I was the headliner, which I didn’t find out until I got there.
I couldn’t have my partner talking in the car on the way from Kent, I was that overwhelmed. My family were all excited, coming to the show, but I sat by myself on the train into London. Going to public places takes so much out of me before and after.
Somehow, I pulled this routine together out of ideas I’d explored in the past, and it shocked the other performers because of how shy I was beforehand.
“I was shaking the entire time until my name was called, and then my posture changed, and I just went for it.”
The acts were all coming up to me afterwards, and people were messaging me on Instagram saying I was the best act of the night, “hilarious”, etc. So, why do I not believe in myself?
I don’t end up doing more gigs unless they’re offered to me. Tom Lawrinson messaged me and had me opening for him last month.
I’ll message some of the autistic comedians I’ve interviewed and see if you can gig with them.
Thank you! I think it’s a difficulty I have with being somewhere new. Once the other acts know me and people I know are coming to see me, I’ll be okay. I hate feeling misunderstood. I don’t dress quirky, so people expect me to be normal and not chronically overwhelmed. I do wonder about wearing a sunflower lanyard.
At the London gig I asked a member of staff where I should sit. She said, “I don’t know. Are you one of the acts?” Even though I knew I was, I turned to my partner and said, “Am I one of the acts?” and he said, “Yeah.” I said to her, “Yeah, I think so.” I asked my partner to go and find a seat, because I wanted to be awkward on my own, without another witness.
The woman running the event said, “Hi babe, do you need to get dressed?” and was telling me about the changing room. I was already dressed, but I went to the changing room anyway. I turned around like Michael Jackson as we were going in and said “I’m already changed. Sorry, you wanted me to get changed so I thought I’d go to the changing room, but I’ve got nothing to change into.” Ha-ha.
It’s okay. Nobody in comedy fits in outside of comedy. That’s what I’ve learnt.
That’s so true. I feel like it’s the only thing I’m good at: putting a funny spin on things.
I think stand-up is a safe space for you, and you’ll get there. Just don’t stop.
Thank you, I appreciate that.
I feel blessed with how my brain has adapted to telling jokes. People request Cameos from me, e.g. “Say something funny about my boyfriend turning 40.” I find it so easy to be awkward on purpose.
“I’ve spent a lifetime trying to suppress my weird mannerisms. Now people are asking me to be as weird as I can. I don’t have to keep it in anymore. I’m blessed, I can finally let my freak flag fly.”
That’s all comedy is. It’s all about not fitting in. Even if it’s just someone falling over, they weren’t able to keep their balance like everybody else.
That’s so true.
Comedians and comedy shows helped me so much growing up. I really love the idea of being that for somebody else. I like to think of teenagers who don’t fit in discovering my comedy and thinking, “She’s like me, her. I get that.”
I had that with Miranda. She wasn’t my number 1 favourite, but I used to watch her with my Nan. I felt relief watching someone who doesn’t take themself seriously.
I get the same feeling from Miranda. She always says the wrong thing.
Yeah! She’s always in the wrong place and misunderstanding things.
And she’s friends with Stevie, who’s equally odd.
Why did you want to do the interview?
I’m always happy to talk to people who are like me. I would have been stressed if you weren’t autistic, to be honest, because we tend to mean what we say. We don’t do trick questions. So, I’d avoid written interviews like this normally. I say things that I don’t mean when I’m under pressure.
I thought your other interviews were great, and I saw your Instagram stories and knew we have the same sense of humour. So, the answer is you’re the reason I wanted to do the interview.
Well, I asked for the interview because I could relate to you!
I know a lot of people do. That’s all from the ever-so-funny Ash Tyson. You should follow her on TikTok and Instagram. I’d say she’s a laugh a minute, but it’s more like every 5-10 seconds. Lastly, if you could help her make connections within the stand-up circuit, get in touch. Let’s make stand-up accessible for everyone, yeah?
I encourage you to like, comment on and share this post, as it drives engagement. But not only that, I love to hear from you!
I’ve been looking for more women in comedy to follow so really glad you shared this. Loved hearing her perspective. That bit about masking and comedy really hit. Thanks for this conversation.
she’s a national treasure!!