World number one darts player Luke Humphries has vowed never to "confess his real feelings" again after facing backlash on social media.
The 30-year-old had admitted that playing darts had become a "chore" and left him feeling "emotionless" following his 6-1 victory over Dirk van Duivenbode in the International Darts Open.
His candid comments about needing a break from the sport sparked criticism online, particularly regarding how much professional darts players earn.
Humphries has now threatened to give "robot" interviews in the future after claiming his words were misunderstood by fans and critics alike.
Luke Humphries has admitted feeling "emotionless" during matchesReutersIn his post-match interview on Saturday, Humphries had been brutally honest about his current state of mind.
"When I'm up on stage I am just feeling emotionless. It's weird and it's me being honest to all the fans. I feel like my emotions are just all over the place," he said.
"It's not that I don't want to be here - it just seems a chore for me at the moment. It's just too much darts. I'm playing too much."
The world champion added: "I think I need a break. I'm emotionless and it is not good for my mental state. The emotion was drained from there. Usually I have the fight in me."
Less than 24 hours after his candid interview, Humphries took to social media platform X to express his frustration at the response.
"Considering the comments, people not understanding what I meant... Will be the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public," Humphries wrote.
"Everything I say or ever do just never seems to be good enough for anybody."
He added: "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."
The backlash reportedly centred around how much darts players earn compared to average workers.
Humphries is currently competing in the Premier League, where he sits second in the table behind fellow world champion Luke Littler.
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… https://t.co/LtkGci1C0r
— Luke Humphries (@lukeh180) April 6, 2025
The 2024 world champion has previously been open about his mental health challenges throughout his career.
After winning last year's World Championship, Humphries reflected on his journey to the top of the sport having suffered from anxiety.
He has admitted that following an anxiety attack on stage in 2018, he contemplated quitting darts altogether.
Humphries' defence of his world championship ended at the last 16 stage earlier this year when he lost to former champion Peter Wright.
