Professional darts player Stephen Bunting has spoken out after his teenage son became the target of vicious online abuse during the recent World Darts Championship.
Family Distress During Championship Campaign
Bunting disclosed that his 13-year-old son, Toby, was subjected to trolling on social media while supporting his father at Alexandra Palace. The young fan was in the crowd watching when Bunting was eliminated in the tournament's third round. The darts star took to the platform X to share the impact of the abuse, stating it had caused significant distress to his family.
Bunting's Public Response and Commitment
In his emotional post, Bunting affirmed his love for his family and his determination to continue his professional darts career. He emphasised his goal to make them proud, vowing not to be derailed by the negative comments from online trolls. This revelation comes shortly after Bunting himself discussed his personal struggles with online abuse in a post-match interview following his second-round victory earlier in the competition.
The Ongoing Issue of Online Harassment in Sport
The incident highlights the persistent and damaging problem of social media abuse directed at sportspeople and their families. The abuse occurred during the high-profile World Darts Championship, which concluded in early January 2026. Bunting's decision to publicly address the trolling aimed at his young son underscores the personal toll such harassment can take, extending beyond the athletes themselves to affect their loved ones.
Bunting's experience adds to a growing number of cases where players across various sports have called for greater action against online abuse, seeking to protect both their professional standing and their private family lives from unfounded and malicious attacks.
