Wesley Plaisier isn't letting online critics get under his skin after his breakthrough performance at the World Darts Championship.
The 35-year-old Dutchman has faced nasty comments about his appearance on social media following his stunning upset victory at Alexandra Palace.
But he's brushing off the negativity with a defiant attitude.
"Haters make you stronger," Plaisier told Sportnieuws.nl.
Wesley Plaisier isn't letting online critics get under his skin
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He explained that he rarely bothers reading the comments and certainly doesn't respond to them.
"I try to shut it out. I don't respond anyway. I read it very occasionally, but I don't care at all. I see it as people who are jealous. Most of them are probably at home on benefits."
The victory that sparked all this attention was nothing short of remarkable.
Plaisier swept aside former world champion Gerwyn Price in emphatic fashion, winning 3-0 in sets against the ninth seed.
It's one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far.
"My phone literally exploded after the match. I had never experienced anything like it," he said.
The Dutchman described the clash as the defining moment of his career so far.
It wasn't just a win – it marked his breakthrough on darts' grandest stage and earned him a whole new level of respect within the sport.
Among the flood of messages was one that caught Plaisier by surprise.
PSV midfielder Joey Veerman reached out via Instagram to congratulate him on the win.
"I even got a message from Joey Veerman," Plaisier revealed. "We don't really speak, but he congratulated me via Instagram. Really nice that he sent a message."
What makes this particularly interesting is that Plaisier is a devoted Feyenoord fan – and the rivalry between Feyenoord and PSV runs deep in Dutch football.
But Plaisier takes a mature view of it all.
PSV star Joey Veerman even sent Wesley Plaisier congratulations
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"Of course I've been disappointed when he scored against Feyenoord. But away from sport we're all professional toward each other."
The focus now shifts to what comes next for the man some are calling 'Big Wes' – a nickname that emerged after a Euro Tour announcer used it.
Plaisier faces Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski in the third round on Saturday afternoon, the first match after the Christmas break.
Despite being viewed as the favourite following his demolition of Price, he's keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
Gerwyn Price was fancied as a potential winner this year but was dismantled by Wesley Plaisier
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"I think it will be 50/50. People say: You beat Price, then he's a pushover. But that's not how I see it, I just have to be sharp against him again."
Victory would set up a last-16 clash against either Andrew Gilding or Luke Woodhouse.