Teenage darts sensation says online harassment has become “impossible to ignore” after World Championship final defeat.
Luke Littler has deactivated his social media accounts following a wave of vitriolic abuse from online trolls, with the 19-year-old darts star saying the relentless targeting left him with “no choice” but to step back.
The Warrington-born thrower, who captured the nation’s imagination during his fairytale run to the PDC World Championship final at Alexandra Palace earlier this month, has been subjected to a barrage of cruel messages in recent weeks—ranging from personal insults about his age and appearance to threats and mockery over his narrow defeat to Luke Humphries.
In a brief statement shared through his management team, Littler confirmed he had temporarily disabled his profiles on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. “I’ve always tried to ignore the noise and focus on my darts, but it’s got to a point where it’s impossible to ignore,” the statement read. “For my own mental health, I’ve decided to take a complete break. No 19-year-old should have to read some of the things people hide behind a screen to write.”
Friends close to the teenager say the abuse intensified after his 7-4 loss to Humphries on January 3, with trolls seizing on his runner-up finish to unleash a fresh wave of toxicity. Despite receiving widespread praise from pundits and former champions for his composure on the sport’s biggest stage, Littler has privately struggled with the sheer volume of hateful comments.
Former world champion John Part described the abuse as “a stain on the sport,” while PDC chairman Barry Hearn issued a statement condemning the trolls and reiterating that the organisation is working with social media platforms to identify those responsible. “Luke is a remarkable talent and a grounded young man,” Hearn said. “He does not deserve this.”
Littler’s management confirmed he will continue to train and compete as normal, with his next scheduled appearance at the Bahrain Darts Masters in late January still going ahead. However, they added that he will have no direct social media presence for the foreseeable future.
Fans rallied behind the teenager over the weekend, with the hashtag #BeKindToLuke trending briefly on X. One supporter wrote: “He’s just a kid living his dream. If you can’t support him, at least have the decency to say nothing.”
Littler’s decision echoes those of several other young British sports stars, including Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and England footballer Lauren James, who have previously spoken out about the toll of online abuse.
For now, the most exciting prospect in darts has chosen silence over scrolling—a drastic move that many hope will finally prompt a serious conversation about protecting young athletes in the social media age.
