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When Madison Channing Walls starred on MTV’s Real World: Skeletons in 2014, her heartwarming story as a former child star who had overcome a heroine addiction completely captured the globe.
But in the years that followed, the star, now 34, descended on a harrowing downward spiral that left her new legion of fans shocked.
She faced a slew of personal blows, including multiple public splits, a barrage of rumors that she had relapsed, a devastating death in her family, a custody case regarding her daughter, and an arrest for assault, which ultimately lead to her becoming homeless and having to beg her followers for help.
In the most recent surprising twist to her rollercoaster ride journey, it was revealed this week that Madison had been taken into custody again, this time for possession of meth and fentanyl.
Madison was barely recognizable in her mugshot, and it was a far cry from the bubbly recovering drug addict who dazzled on MTV all those years ago.
It left many wondering: what really went wrong for the former reality sensation?
As she continues to become embroiled in scandal, FEMAIL has recapped her tumultuous story from start to finish… and broke down what really lead to her dramatic fall from grace.
From her life before MTV shot her into the spotlight and her drug addiction to her legal problems and scandals, take a look back at Madison’s rise and fall.
Madison Channing Walls found fame after starring in MTV’s Real World: Skeletons in 2014 (seen) and since then she’s descended on a shocking downward spiral
In the most recent surprising twist to her rollercoaster ride journey, it was revealed this week that Madison had been arrested for possession of meth and fentanyl
Her dazzling rise to fame: After overcoming a heroine addiction, Madison was propelled into the spotlight when she starred in MTV’s Real World: Skeletons
Madison, who was born on September 30, 1990, in Dallas, Texas, started modeling as a child and even posed for the acclaimed photographer Odette Sugerman.
She also dabbled in acting, and in 2010, she was cast in the lead role in James Van Alden’s A Number’s Game.
But Madison’s career took a pause as she began to struggle with a heroin addiction.
By 2014, however, she was clean and she joined MTV’s 13th season of Real World: Skeletons, which follows a group of strangers living together.
During the show, she spoke about her past drug problems, admitting that she had overdosed on more than one occasion.
Madison, who was born on September 30, 1990, in Dallas, Texas, started modeling as a child and even posed for the acclaimed photographer Odette Sugerman. She’s seen as a kid
She also dabbled in acting, and in 2010, she was cast in the lead role in James Van Alden’s A Number’s Game (seen)
Madison started dating her fellow contestant Tony Raines after starring in the show together, and they welcomed a daughter, named Harper, in February 2016
Her newfound reality TV fame earned her a legion of followers on Instagram, where she often flaunted her lavish lifestyle
Her feed consisted of beach trips, outings with her daughter, and glamorous getaways. She also began landing a slew of brand deals (seen), and often posted ads on her account
‘I’m a recovering heroin addict. I am scarred for life from it. I just feel grateful to be alive,’ she said.
Madison started dating her fellow contestant Tony Raines after starring in the show together, and they welcomed a daughter, named Harper, in February 2016.
Her newfound reality TV fame earned her a legion of followers on Instagram, where she often flaunted her lavish lifestyle.
Her feed consisted of beach trips, outings with her daughter, and glamorous getaways.
She also began landing a slew of brand deals, and often posted ads on her account.
Her fall from grace: After two highly publicized splits, and rumors that she had relapsed, Madison signed over custody of her daughter
Soon after she gave birth to their daughter, fans of the reality show were left devastated when she and Tony (seen together) ended their romance
She was then linked to Teen Mom alum Javi Marroquin in 2017 (seen), but the relationship was short lived as they split only two weeks later
But soon after she was propelled into the spotlight, Madison’s downward spiral began as she endured multiple public splits and faced a barrage of rumors that she had relapsed.
Soon after she gave birth to their daughter, fans of the reality show were left devastated when she and Tony ended their romance.
She was then linked to Teen Mom alum Javi Marroquin in 2017, but the relationship was met with fierce scrutiny from her ex.
Tony was quick to slam Madison for ‘raising their daughter’ in ‘the public eye,’ and admitted that he wouldn’t know how to feel if she and Harper joined Javi’s show.
In a scathing interview, he told In Touch, ‘If I have to see another guy potentially help raise my daughter and it’s on TV, it’s in the public eye, I don’t know how I’m going to feel about that.
‘This will be the third guy that Madison has introduced to Harper within a year… I’m her dad, so we’ve got to talk about this.’
But he added, ‘There’s no bitterness here toward that guy [Javi]. It’s just the situation. It’s just a little tough when you have babies involved.’
The relationship was short lived however, as they split just two weeks after news of their romance broke.
Javi later said of their breakup, ‘The biggest thing was I had a hard time reading motives and intentions, so when things started coming out in the tabloids, there were a lot of things I didn’t know about.’
He added that he hadn’t watched her reality show and didn’t know about her past battle with drug addiction.
In 2018, RadarOnline reported that she had signed over custody of her daughter to her parents and rumors erupted that she had relapsed on drugs. She’s seen in 2017
On Instagram weeks later, Madison reflected on what lead to her giving her parents’ custody of Harper, explaining that she had become ‘super depressed’ and ‘wasn’t the healthiest’
‘I guess she had a past, she overcame that past, and she didn’t tell me about [that],’ he said.
In 2018, rumors erupted that Madison had relapsed on drugs when fans noticed she had what appeared to be track marks on her arm in a social media photo.
Soon after, the speculation was only heightened when RadarOnline reported that she had signed over custody of her daughter to her parents.
A petition at the time filed by her parents said, ‘[Madison’s parents] Cally and Michael have had possession of the child since date of birth.
‘The appointment of the parents as managing conservators would not be in the best interest of the child.
‘It is in the best interest of the child that Petitioners be appointed sole managing conservators of the child.’
In Madison’s response, she simply wrote, ‘I want my parents to have custody of my daughter.’
But Harper’s father Tony attempted to fight it, as he responded with, ‘Respondent specifically denies the allegation that it is in the best interest of the child that Petitioners, the child’s grandparents, be appointed sole managing conservators of the child.’
She said she had taken some time to ‘get her headspace right again.’ She added of her daughter, ‘I want to do what’s right for Harper. She’s my entire world.’ She’s seen in 2019
In the end, they reached a temporary custody agreement; Harper remained in her parents’ custody and Madison moved in with them.
‘[Madison] shall have possession and access as agreed by [her and her parents]. However, all such periods of possession shall be supervised by [her parents],’ court documents read.
‘[Madison] is currently residing on the property of [her parents] due to the need for support at this time.’
Her mom denied rumors that Madison had relapsed, telling RadarOnline, ‘She’s doing great. Nothing is wrong. She’s fine. No she’s not on drugs.’
In an Instagram Live weeks later, Madison reflected on what lead to her giving her parents’ custody of Harper, explaining that she had become ‘super depressed’ and ‘wasn’t the healthiest.’
She said she had taken some time to ‘get her headspace right again.’
‘I was doing soul searching. I practiced meditation. I needed a lot of therapy. I got issues,’ she said.
‘I needed a break from the drama, world outside of just myself. I was in an unhealthy situation. I wanted to get mentally back into a good state of mind.’
She added of her daughter, ‘I want to do what’s right for Harper. She’s my entire world.
‘I have the great support of my family who keeps me accountable for everything I do.’
In the months that followed, Madison seemed as happy as could be again, sharing an array of photos with Harper.
Her downward spiral continued: Madison was arrested for assault and was left homeless in 2023, leaving her begging for help from her followers
In March 2023, it was reported that she had been arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury after she struck her dad (seen together)
In March 2023, Madison found herself back in hot water after it was reported by The Sun that she had been arrested and charged with assault causing bodily injury.
According to a police report obtained by the publication, police were called to her parents’ home, where she still lived with her daughter.
A family member told authorities that she had struck a relative ‘on the left side of the jaw and scratched the right arm after the two of them were in a verbal argument.’
They alleged that Madison had become ‘upset’ because they ‘cut off her phone service.’
The outlet said Madison ‘admitted’ to striking the relative and was held on $2,500 bond but was bailed out two days later.
The family member was later identified as her father, Michael Shapshak.
One month later, the former reality star took to Instagram to announce that she was now homeless as she plead with her followers to donate to her GoFundMe.
One month later, the former reality star took to Instagram to announce that she was now homeless as she plead with her followers to donate to her GoFundMe. She’s seen last year
She said at the time, ‘I desperately want to be the mother Harper and I both know and want me to be.’ She’s seen in 2021
‘Firstly let me start by saying I’m seriously humbling myself doing this. You all are aware Harper lives with my parents currentlym as well as myself, up until recently,’ she wrote.
‘For personal reasons involving myself and my family, this past month has been a complete whirlwind and I no longer have a home…
‘I’m not going into the details, because I’m not one to bash anyone or have a pity party.
‘But really, it ultimately has nothing to do with my end goal in this… I want nothing more than to have a home for myself and my daughter [so she] can have a bedroom of her own.
‘Then I can begin visitations and Harper eventually will start staying on overnights with me.
‘My end goal is to regain custodial guardianship and my having a home is the first step towards that goal.’
Madison said she was currently ‘crashing’ on her ‘best friend’s couch,’ adding, ‘This money would be life changing, so I won’t struggle paying [for] an apartment, living paycheck to paycheck.’
She concluded, ‘I desperately want to be the mother Harper and I both know and want me to be.’
Another personal blow: Madison’s life was shattered again when her dad died suddenly of a heart attack last year
In December 2023, Madison faced more tragedy when it was revealed that her dad Michael had passed away suddenly from a heart attack
In December 2023, Madison faced more tragedy when it was revealed that her dad Michael had passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
‘Tuesday morning after taking Harper to school, Michael (Poppy) returned home with breakfast,’ Madison’s mom wrote on Instagram at the time.
‘After breakfast, he suffered two huge heart attacks here at home and died. Words can not express the grief our small family is experiencing.
Soon after, it was revealed that the assault case against Madison had been dropped because of her father’s passing. Madison’s dad is seen with Harper
‘Please keep my children and his granddaughter in your prayers. He was the very best Poppy and certainly treated us like queens. We are struggling at this time, trying to manage one minute at a time.’
Soon after, it was revealed that the assault case against Madison had been dropped because of her father’s passing.
Madison posted a touching tribute to her dad on Instagram afterwards, calling him her ‘real-life guardian angel.’
‘Daddy, your absence is felt everywhere in all of us. Somehow, you were all of our everything,’ she said.
‘You were my real-life guardian angel my entire life, always saving me and never giving up even when we both wanted to.
‘The bond you shared with Harper was so special, everything I could have imagined for her, not just a grandpa, but someone she’s loved and counted on most in her life.
‘We all miss you so incredibly much and wish you didn’t have to leave us this soon… But now everyone gets to know and share you as the angel I’ve always considered you to be… I love you daddy.’
Her latest legal problems: Madison disappeared from social media and has now been arrested for possession of meth and fentanyl
It’s unclear what Madison has been up to recently as she disappeared from social media last year, with her latest post dated June 9, 2024. She’s seen last year
It’s unclear what Madison has been up to recently as she disappeared from social media last year, with her latest post dated June 9, 2024.
But her latest blow came this week when it was revealed by The Sun that she had been arrested for possession of meth and fentanyl on January 10.
But her latest blow came this week when it was revealed by The Sun that she had been arrested for possession of meth and fentanyl on January 10
It’s been said that a Texas police officer noticed a silver vehicle with an obscured temporary registration tag, prompting a traffic stop.
The car was driven by a male, with Madison sitting in the passenger seat.
The officer recounted in the police report, ‘I observed multiple paraphernalia items used for narcotics usage, such as torch lighters.’
The driver was described as ‘nervous and hesitant,’ when he was asked to exit the car so the officer could search him and the car.
Eventually, the officer recovered a small container on the driver’s person, with the man admitting to having unprescribed Xanax pills.
‘Due to his admission to the possession of narcotics, I removed the bottle from his pocket. I asked him again what was in the bottle, and he said it had fentanyl inside,’ the law enforcement officer reported.
‘I opened the container. And it concealed what I believed to be fentanyl in a hard rock-like shape.’
Madison was released from custody on January 16, after her $10,000 bond was posted. She’s seen last year
Additionally, a glass pipe, used to smoke the fentanyl, was in the man’s possession, leading to his arrest for possession of a controlled substance.
Madison exited the car next, admitting to also having fentanyl.
‘She told me it was in her backpack, located at her feet, where she sat in the passenger seat,’ the report continued.
‘I found a small round container in Walls’ backpack with a substance similar to what I found on [the man].
‘Walls admitted to me that the substance was fentanyl and it belonged to her. I placed Walls under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, handcuffed her, and double-locked the cuffs.’
A small pink container described as containing ‘a crystal-like substance’ was uncovered as well. The officer believed it to be methamphetamine.
‘Both Walls and [the man] admitted to the crystal-like substance being methamphetamine and it was theirs,’ the statement read.
‘They both admitted to smoking the fentanyl I found on [the man] earlier in the day. Walls admitted to smoking the meth with [the man] last night.’
The substance tested positive for meth and Madison was released from custody on January 16, after her $10,000 bond was posted.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Madison for comment.
