Luke Littler’s mother Lisa has hit out at ‘vile t**ts’ in the crowd at the Alexandra Palace after her son was booed by some sections during his World Darts Championship victory against Rob Cross.
The defending champion saw off his opponent 4-2 in a tricky last-16 clash and then bullishly thanked those who had jeered him for ‘paying for my prize money’.
Littler dubbed the atmosphere at the historic venue ‘hostile’, but his mother had far stronger words on social media as she rushed to the defence of her son as scores of fans denigrated his behaviour.
One commenter had wondered aloud why he wasn’t allowed to ‘call (Littler) a little pudding because he’s 18’ since he was able to ‘financially ridicule a whole audience who’ve paid their hard earned money’.
Lisa responded: ‘So they buy tickets with there (sic) hard earned money to sit there like t**ts and boo (thumbs up emoji)’.
Another social media user had noted that ‘the more I watch Luke Littler, the more I hate him’ – prompting his mother to respond teasingly: ‘Aww gutted for ya nottt (sic) (two laugh-crying emojis)’.
Luke Littler stirred up a ‘hostile’ crowd at the Alexandra Palace on Monday evening after the defending champion was booed
But his mother Lisa had stronger words for fans on social media as she dubbed the crowd ‘vile’
When when darts fan told the world number one to ‘behave like one’, Lisa pulled no punches with her reply, writing: ‘Behave like one (two laugh-crying emojis)
‘Best comment so far am sure Luke will carry on behaving like one as he as (sic) done crowds were vile let’s all boo the world number one idiots man’.
In response to one line of insults, Lisa continued her defiant streak, mocking one use who called Littler ‘the most unbearable arrogant w****r in any sport’ and a ‘fat ****’ by saying: ‘Aww Luke Won’t sleep now (two laugh-crying emojis) (middle finger emoji)’.
Lisa did find one piece of supportive commentary to respond to, writing ‘love this (smiling hearts emoji)’ to one user’s suggestion that Littler has ‘old geezers on strings’.
Lisa and her partner, Littler’s father Anthony, have been at their son’s side throughout his meteoric rise, supporting him as he won the World Darts Championship at the start of the year, and at last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
But as much as Lisa was prepared to defend her son, Littler himself admitted that he may have ‘lost it’ on stage in the heat of competition.
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The teen’s mother hit back on social media site X at those who believed her son was wrong
The crowd at the historic north London venue is famous for its festive rowdiness and noise
Littler has been supported by his mother and his father Anthony throughout his meteoric rise
‘It is one of those things, the fans, you have got to leave it all in there and give out the odd little ones for the checkouts and breaks of throw, but leave it all until that winning dart,’ Littler said in his post-match press conference.
‘I think two years ago I would have started throwing my darts left handed, but that is how much I have grown and matured.
‘People might not say I am mature, but try being in my position. I think it is the first time I have been at the World Championships and the crowd haven’t wanted me to win.
‘I expect the worst on New Year’s Day, whoever I do play,’ he added.
The defending champion will play Krzysztof Ratajski in his quarter-final, following the Polish star’s 4-2 defeat of Luke Woodhouse.
