Luke Humphries should come off social media and has been told he ‘doesn’t need to answer to anyone’.
That’s the view of former world number one Colin Lloyd who believes that fans risk pushing him too far if they don’t cut him some slack.
Humphries made headlines after declaring that he ‘felt emotionless’ after a victory at the International Darts Open at the weekend, declaring that he ‘needed a break’ from the game.
After receiving negative comments, he then took to X saying: “Considering the comments, people not understanding what I meant… Will be the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public.
“Everything I say or ever 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 we’ll be happy, or usually will still find a way to moan at us.”
‘Cool Hand Luke’ has endured a busy 2025 which included a total of 19 matches in the month of March, including the European Tour, Players Championship and the World Series of Darts – not to mention the Premier League.
While talkSPORT commentator Paul Nicholson believes that Humphries must manage his schedule better to avoid burnout, Lloyd says that the current world number one must do whatever he needs to to preserve his mental health.
Offering his advice, Lloyd told talkSPORT: “Come off social media for a bit.
“Listen, he’s got his fans. We’re not caining everyone that’s on social media – he’s got his fans, of course he has.
“Enjoy the sport of darts. Enjoy Luke Humphries because he’s a lovely fella – just cut him a little bit of slack.
“Of all people, he doesn’t deserve to be harassed like that on social media.
“He doesn’t deserve it.
“I feel for Luke Humphries because he’s committed to the tour and he’s obviously feeling it a bit at the moment.
“We speak about it and say that his body language doesn’t seem great and if Luke Humphries wants to have a little break then he doesn’t have to justify that to anyone.
“He’s been on the go for two or three years – that’s why he’s the world number one, that’s why he’s bagged so many major championships and he doesn’t have to pander to the needs of the darting fans.
“He’s being punished for being honest.
“It’s tough but they don’t need to justify his actions to anyone. Luke Humphries’ private life has nothing to do with anyone.”
Asked if the schedule is becoming too much, Lloyd added: “A little bit. It’s not the darts because they’re professional darts players, but it’s the traveling in between. It’s tiring.
“Even if they’re already in Germany, they’ve still got to make their way from Berlin to Riesa.
“Stephen Bunting never pulls out of anything. Luke Humphries doesn’t pull out of anything really – he’s someone who is committed to the tour and tries to play everything.
“The rewards are great and the darts is great but it does get tiring and it does get a bit taxing when you feel as though you’re not getting a break.”
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