Luke Humphries’ fiancee sends message as darts star confronts critics | Other | Sport
Luke Humphries’ fiancee insists that the darts world No. 1 is “making us all so proud” after speaking out on his mental health and admitting that the sport is leaving him “emotionless”. Humphries received backlash from a section of fans for giving an interview in which he discussed plans to take a break from the sport.
“I feel a bit emotionless,” Humphries said. “I feel like I’m up here and my emotions are all over the place. It’s not that I don’t want to be here, it just seems a chore for me at the moment. I’m playing too much. I need to give something away, I need a break. It’s not good for my mental state.”
However, some corners of social media took issue with Humphries’ comments. That led to the 30-year-old hitting back on X (formerly known as Twitter), threatening to leave his personality out of future interviews as a result of the negative reaction.
“Considering the comments, people not understanding what I meant… [this] will be the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public,” he said. “Everything I ever say or do just never seems to be good enough for anybody…
“As long as no one complains when we all give the same answers in interviews like robots and not our true feelings. Then everyone I guess will be happy, or as usual will still find a way to moan at us.”
And his fiancee Kayley Jones has come out in support of Humphries, writing on social media: “Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re making us all so proud.”
Jones’ message was in response to Emma Paton, Michael Bridge and Polly James on Sky Sports, who claimed that Humphries is a “credit to darts” for speaking his mind on the matter.
Humphries’ current view on darts has been widely supported by his peers, with Luke Littler sympathetic to his rivals’ current situation. The reigning world champion responded: “Yeah, totally agree with him. I think Gerwyn Price said the same thing this morning, or last night, I’ve seen it on Instagram.
“But yeah, it’s tough, especially when these players go over to the likes of Riesa, you’ve got to get trains, you’ve got to get direct flights, connecting flights, and then you’re back home.
“But I think Luke, I think he knows now he has to balance his schedule. Just like myself, just focus on the Premier League.”
As Littler alluded, Price echoed Humphries’ comments on social media after his defeat to Nathan Aspinall in the International Darts Open. He wrote: “Gutted to lose today. But so happy to be on the way home. Too much darts atm (at the moment). Playing so well.”
