"He said if you do it again, it will be the biggest fine you have seen" – Justin Hood rapped by the PDC for showing his bare chest
PDC
The English darter Justin Hood is facing a notable change in his career. The crowd favorite, known for his exuberant stage antics, is being forced to say goodbye to his iconic nickname “Happy Feet.” The reason? Copyright issues with the animated film of the same name, Happy Feet.
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Hood, from Glastonbury, received the nickname years ago after a remarkable incident early in his career. During a county match, he discovered he had forgotten his own dart shoes. In a rush, he borrowed a pair that were far too big — size 12/13 — which he ultimately had to play the match in. It quickly earned him the nickname “Happy Feet,” a name that had since become inseparable from him.
New nickname on the way
That is now coming to an end. In an interview with talkSPORT, Hood confirmed that the nickname will soon disappear for good. “We’ve got stuff going on with my nickname that’s got to be changed,” said the Englishman. "So, we’re going through all of that now. Happy Feet has got to go unfortunately, so we are sorting a new one out now. We haven’t settled on anything yet."
Fans will need some time to adjust, as the nickname perfectly matched Hood’s playful and energetic presence on stage. His distinctive style — including funny faces, sticking out his tongue, and exuberant celebrations — quickly made him a crowd favorite.
In sporting terms, Hood is also on the rise. The current world number 53 recently impressed on his debut at the World Darts Championship. He immediately surged through to the quarterfinals, where he ultimately had to bow to the experienced Gary Anderson. Nevertheless, his performance was seen as a breakthrough at the highest level.
Rapped on the knuckles
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Aside from his performances on the oche, Hood also regularly makes headlines with his behavior on stage. He is known for lifting his shirt after victories and showing his belly to the crowd — an act that doesn’t always sit well with the darts body. The Professional Darts Corporation has already rapped his knuckles several times.
After his match against Nick Kenny he received a warning. But when he did the same thing in his clash with Danny Noppert, the tone turned more serious. "He said if you do it again, it will be the biggest fine you have seen. I’m not gonna say what I said back to him because it’s a kids’ show.”
Justin Hood after his World Championship match against Nick Kenny
The Englishman doesn’t seem overly concerned about it, however. With a wink, he indicated he doesn’t want to change his behavior entirely. "I said if I get to the final though, I will do something very bad. Then you can take it out of that prize money."
With the farewell to “Happy Feet,” the darts world loses a recognizable nickname, but at the same time it opens the door to something new. Hood and his team are currently busy devising an alternative that suits his personality just as well.
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For now, one question lingers above all: which nickname can match the success of “Happy Feet”? One thing is certain: it won’t be quiet around Justin Hood any time soon.
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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