Darts superstar Luke Littler has opened up about the supportive warning he gave his new girlfriend, Faith Millar, before their relationship became public, as she faces a torrent of online abuse from trolls.
Second World Title Amid Personal Scrutiny
The 18-year-old world number one recently secured his second consecutive PDC World Championship title at Alexandra Palace, defeating Gian van Veen in the final. The victory earned Littler a staggering £1 million in prize money, double the previous year's top prize. Runner-up Van Veen took home £400,000.
Littler's triumph was presented by cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, who is battling prostate cancer. This win cements Littler's status as only the fourth player in history to win back-to-back world darts titles.
Celebrity Encounters and Online Backlash
During the tournament, Littler's 19-year-old girlfriend, Faith Millar, a beautician from Wigan, was a constant presence in the crowd. She was spotted rubbing shoulders with celebrities including singer Lewis Capaldi and I'm A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge during the semi-finals.
However, since the couple confirmed their romance last May, after months of claiming they were just friends, Millar has been subjected to significant online harassment. Littler confessed he felt compelled to caution her about the intense scrutiny that would come with dating one of sport's most recognisable figures.
"Obviously, at the start of last year, I was always looking at the comments. And she's been having a look [at the] negativity," Littler revealed. "But I just said, 'They're jealous. They wanna ruin us.' I just said, 'Just don't look at it and just focus on what we've got'."
A Pattern of Abuse
This is not the first time Littler has had to deal with such situations. His previous girlfriend, Eloise Milburn, faced what he described as "vile" and "disgusting" abuse, largely due to their five-year age gap when he was 16. He publicly urged trolls to stop at the time.
The abuse towards Milburn regrettably continued even after their breakup in July 2024, a split initiated by Littler via a text message that was labelled as "brutal" and unexpected.
Despite the challenges off the oche, Littler's focus remains sharp. He praised Millar for her support, especially during trips like the Australian Darts Masters. "She's a lovely lady, Faith," he said. "I think it's sort of what I needed."
The young champion's advice to his partner highlights the dark side of fame that often accompanies sporting success, where personal lives become fodder for anonymous online criticism.
