Darts professional Stephen Bunting has made an emotional statement, revealing that his family, including his young son, have been targeted by online trolls following his shock exit from the 2025/26 World Darts Championship.
A Shocking Early Exit at Ally Pally
The 40-year-old player, nicknamed 'The Bullet', suffered a disappointing third-round defeat at Alexandra Palace on Saturday, December 27th, losing to James Hurrell. This came after Bunting had spoken confidently about his title chances following his first-round victory over Sebastian Bialecki, where he declared himself 'the People's Champion' and praised his immense fan support.
His bold comments had split opinion within the darts community, with even defending champion Luke Littler taking a public dig at Bunting after his loss.
The 'Hurtful' Abuse Aimed at Family
In a lengthy post on social media platform X on December 29th, Bunting thanked his supporters but addressed the darker side of his online presence. He explained that while he and his family were aware of negative comments directed at him, the abuse extended to his son, Toby.
"They see the negative comments and do their best to make sure I don't see them and even Toby has had some hate from some of the trolls online which really is hurtful for us as a family," Bunting wrote.
He described his son as "one of the nicest kids you could wish to meet" and vowed to spend more time with him in the coming year. Bunting was keen to stress that the positive support from fans far outweighed the negativity, stating it "deafens the noise they try to make."
Looking Ahead After Championship Disappointment
In his statement, Bunting congratulated his conqueror, James Hurrell, on a fantastic match and wished him well for the rest of the tournament. He reflected on his own performance, admitting that while some finishing was good, he couldn't find his true scoring game.
The Liverpool-born player thanked his family, management, and sponsors for their unwavering support throughout the season. He reiterated his love for his family, calling them his "massive motivation," and affirmed his belief that he still has a lot to give to the sport of darts in the remainder of his career.
Bunting signed off by wishing his fans a happy new year, urging them to go "Bunting mental into 2026." The incident highlights the ongoing issue of online abuse in professional sports, where players' families can become unintended targets.
