Social media can be a dangerous place, as darts star Nathan Aspinall recently discovered. The world number four and mentor to Luke Littler revealed that he and his family have been receiving death threats online. In a recent interview, Aspinall expressed his frustration and disgust towards the vile abuse he has been subjected to after recent defeats. This disturbing trend has forced him to step away from social media for the sake of his mental well-being.
A Disturbing Reality
Aspinall, 32, lost his opening Premier League clash in Cardiff last week and is set to face Michael van Gerwen in Berlin on Thursday. Despite his success, Aspinall has been confronting the darker side of being in the public eye. He lamented, “Some of the abuse I’m getting at the moment, it’s absolutely disgusting. People forget we are human beings. I’m going through a rough patch, and I am the first to admit I am struggling at the moment.”
The Toll of Being in the Limelight
Being a professional athlete is not easy, and darts is no exception. Aspinall shared his frustration, “It’s hard not to think about [the abuse] on stage when you are losing or not playing well. That might be a negative about me letting it get in my head. All I can say is that I’m trying my best. I’ve got the best team possible around me, and my family is fantastic.” Despite the challenges, Aspinall remains committed to his sport and urged people to give him a break.
Luke Littler Faces Similar Challenges
Aspinall’s mentee, Luke Littler, has also had to deal with social media trolling following his rise to fame in the darts world. Aspinall believes that Littler has the talent to succeed but worries about the impact the negativity may have on him. “At the end of the day, he’s just a kid playing darts. He doesn’t care about the money; he just loves playing darts,” Aspinall explained. With a fantastic management team behind them, Aspinall is confident that Littler will be able to handle whatever comes his way.
A Call for Change
The abuse and threats that Aspinall and Littler have faced highlight the need for better safeguards against online harassment. Aspinall expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s up to us to put avenues in place to stop the abuse coming through to me personally.” It is crucial that society comes together to combat this issue and create a more supportive online environment for athletes and individuals alike.
To read the original article, please click here.