Justin Hood has revealed he was forced to drop his popular nickname “Happy Feet” after a legal intervention from Warner Bros.
The Glastonbury thrower captured the imagination of darts fans with his fairy-tale run to the quarter-finals of the World Championship at Alexandra Palace before eventually losing to Gary Anderson.
However, the 33-year-old can no longer walk on stage as “Happy Feet” after Warner Bros., which owns the rights to the animated film of the same name, objected to its use.
Explaining the situation, Hood said the film company contacted his equipment sponsor, Target Darts, to enforce its trademark rights.
As a result, he switched to the nickname “Pocket Rocket” – only to discover that the phrase carries an unintended adult meaning in the United States.
He joked that another name change may now be on the cards.
Despite the setback, Hood insists “Happy Feet” remains the nickname that truly belongs to him.
“It’s not something you choose yourself,” he said. “It’s what people have always called me, and I’ll always be ‘Happy Feet’. Hopefully in three or four years we can go back to it.”
One of the biggest talking points during Hood’s memorable World Championship campaign was his dream of buying a Chinese restaurant so he could enjoy his favourite takeaway whenever he wanted.
The idea even caught the attention of world No. 2 Luke Humphries, who jokingly agreed to become a business partner.
Life has changed dramatically since Hood’s breakthrough run, which ended with a 5-2 defeat to Anderson on New Year’s Day.
He admitted the sudden fame has taken some getting used to, with hundreds of messages arriving every day following his exploits at Ally Pally.
Much of the attention, he said, centred on his restaurant ambition, which remains firmly on his to-do list.
Hood still hopes to own a Chinese restaurant within the next couple of years and believes it is an achievable goal.
His newfound popularity has also changed the way he prepares for tournaments.
Rather than practising in the local pub, where fans constantly stop to chat, Hood now heads to a friend’s house to get uninterrupted practice time.
Although he appreciates the support and says he never turns anyone away, he admits he misses the atmosphere of the pub where he grew up playing darts and hopes the excitement surrounding his rise eventually settles down.
Financially, Hood revealed that his World Championship earnings were significantly reduced after taxes, management fees and other deductions.
While his prize money shrank considerably, he still described the remaining sum as life-changing for him and his partner.
The financial boost has allowed him to compete this season without the pressure of needing immediate results.
Even so, Hood has no intention of settling.
His ultimate ambition remains to return to Alexandra Palace and lift the World Championship title.
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