Bruce Willis in Name Change Row

by Tina Clough, 15 March 2009.

Spritely shop assistant, Chris Pratt has taken on a leading supermarket after changing his name badge to his nickname 'Bruce Willis' landed him in hot water - never one to lose an argument, he has now changed his name by Deed Poll and is awaiting the response from his superiors!

The 20 year old who is currently studying media production at Northumbria University, was given the jazzy moniker after his self-confessed obsession with the Die Hard Series teamed with a fascination with films more generally.

The now aptly named, Bruce Willis, said, "After everyone started calling me 'Bruce' as a joke, I decided to change my name at work, and everyone including the staff and customers loved it and took it in the spirit it was intended.   Unfortunately, my bosses at the supermarket (which cannot be named) didn't find it funny and asked me to remove it from my work badge straight away."

Never one to lose an argument, he decided to log on to online Deed Poll provider, The Legal Deed Service and change it legally making it 1-0 to him and showing the supermarket chain that anything is possible!

Jamie Jackson, chief executive at the name change firm who conduct most of its business online and over the phone, said, "It is amazing how many people change their names to that of their favourite celebrity! Not so long ago we had a chef change his name to 'Gordon F Ramsay'. We all found it so amusing when Chris rang up to change his name on Thursday, especially teamed with the fact that he is taking on a major brand in a name change war!

"Bruce Willis actually changed his name a few years back from 'Walter Willison' to his stage name 'Bruce Willis'. It seemed to work for him so big things could be on the cards for Chris.

"Mr Willis, who is originally from Stockton-On-Tees, added, "I am not one for losing an argument, it is ridiculous really what lengths I will go to in order to get one over on someone!. When I logged on to The Legal Deed Service's website, I saw how easy it was and literally five minutes after I typed in my details, my name was officially change to 'Bruce Willis'!"

His co-workers are now referring to him as 'Bruce Willis' and his friends and family think it is really amusing- all except his dad, Mr Willis Added, "I haven't seen the superiors yet, who refused my name change, but I have that to look forward to on Wednesday!, my friends have all started calling me 'Bruce' and have replaced my old name in all of their mobiles, it really is quite funny.

Mr Jackson, from the firm who changed Christine Hamilton's name to 'Mrs British Battleaxe' said, "Since the start of 2009, our Deed poll applications have gone through the roof, changing your name is even more popular than ever before, and with so many choices on offer, you can now name yourself after your favourite celebrity, movie start or politician at the click of a button!"

Text: © 2009, The Legal Deed Service Ltd.

Image: © 2009, Bruce Willis

This page was last updated: 28th Aptil 2009