Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts sensation, has been advised to channel the charismatic and unapologetic persona of snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan following significant backlash from fans after his actions at the Premier League Darts event in Sheffield on May 22, 2025. The controversy arose when Littler, after enduring crowd boos at the Utilita Arena, taunted Sheffield United supporters on Instagram following their loss to Sunderland in the Championship play-off final, posting, “Heard some boos on Thursday night karma always comes back to bite you.” This prompted a wave of criticism, leading rival player Rob Cross to defend Littler and encourage him to embrace his bold personality, likening him to O’Sullivan.
Rob Cross’s Defense and O’Sullivan Comparison
Cross, who finished seventh in the Premier League standings, spoke to The Sun, as reported by Express.co.uk, urging fans to “lay off” Littler and let him be himself. “Luke gets a bit of a backlash sometimes from fans about his antics,” Cross said. “But I think everyone should lay off him and let him get on with it. I reckon he can become an Eric Bristow or Ronnie O’Sullivan character of the sport. He doesn’t take any nonsense and he loves the banter.” Cross praised Littler’s swagger, noting, “The boy isn’t arrogant, he just enjoys the fun of it all,” and emphasized that such charisma is vital for darts’ atmosphere and growth.
O’Sullivan, a seven-time snooker world champion, is known for his outspoken nature and ability to engage crowds, often thriving on controversy. Cross’s comparison suggests Littler could adopt a similar approach to handle criticism and maintain his meteoric rise, which includes winning the 2025 PDC World Championship and topping the Premier League standings with a record points total.
Backlash Context and Littler’s Season
The Sheffield incident wasn’t Littler’s first brush with crowd disapproval in 2025, as he faced jeers at multiple Premier League events. His social media retort exacerbated tensions, echoing a prior controversy in December 2023 when he faced backlash for posing with The Sun newspaper, prompting an apology due to the paper’s boycott in his native Merseyside. Despite these challenges, Littler’s on-stage performance remains stellar, with victories over Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries, and a 6-1 final win in Cardiff. He’s set to defend his Premier League title on May 29, 2025, at the O2 Arena, facing Gerwyn Price in the semifinals.
O’Sullivan’s Influence and Advice
O’Sullivan, who burst onto the snooker scene at 17 by winning the 1993 UK Championship, has previously offered Littler advice, drawing parallels to his own career. In January 2024, he recommended Littler find a mentor like Sir Alex Ferguson to navigate fame’s pressures, telling SportBoom.com, “I’d probably take the [Stephen] Hendry route and just be always around an Alex Ferguson-type figure. I’d definitely choose to do things differently.” O’Sullivan’s own battles with mental health and addiction highlight the importance of such guidance, which Littler, with over a million Instagram followers, may need as his profile grows.
Connections to Broader Narratives
Littler’s situation resonates with other 2025 French Open stories, where athletes face scrutiny and pressure. Emma Raducanu’s scheduling complaints and Naomi Osaka’s emotional response to her loss against Paula Badosa reflect the challenges of managing public expectations, much like Littler’s crowd interactions. Taylor Fritz’s revenue share advocacy and Coco Gauff’s bold predictions parallel Littler’s role as a young disruptor in darts. Off-field, Jack Grealish’s transfer speculation under Pep Guardiola’s management mirrors Littler’s need to balance performance with external noise. As Littler prepares for the O2, adopting O’Sullivan’s fearless persona could help him turn backlash into fuel for his title defense.
