A supermarket shelf-stacker has changed his name to that of his hero Bruce Willis with the help of a Shropshire company specialising in crazy name changes.
Chris Pratt got into hot water with his employers after putting his nickname – Bruce Willis – on his name badge at work instead of his own.
Rather than follow shop bosses’ orders to remove the badge he turned to The Legal Deed Service in Market Drayton for help.
The company processed the necessary paperwork to transform Mr Pratt into his hero Bruce Willis overnight.
The 20-year-old, who is currently studying media production at Northumbria University, Newcastle, was given the jazzy moniker by pals because of his self-confessed obsession with the Die Hard films.
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 didn’t find it funny and asked me to remove it from my work badge straight away.”
Jamie Jackson, chief executive at the name change firm, said: “It is amazing how many people change their names to that of their favourite celebrity.
“We all found it so amusing when Chris rang up to change his name.”
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.”
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20 Comments
Uncanny! I’ve just heard that the real Bruces new movie is called ‘Stack Hard’
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Bruce Willis ?, I thought his given name much more suited to him.
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“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.”
change your name back, you certaily were better suited to it – Mr Pratt!
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I would have thought that the reason for wearing a name badge was merely to allow you to identify the person so that if you wanted to make a complaint, or offer praise then you could make sure you had the right person. I fail to see how being called ‘Bruce Willis’ (whether that be legally, or simply colloquially) could possibly be a problem. I see no reason in making an issue about this, and admire the young man’s subsequent move to have this name change made permanent. His bosses should spend their time worrying about relevent problems, not making molehills out of mountains!
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I dont blame him for changing his name from Mr Pratt to Mr Willis.
He has an appointment at the Doctors or something and they say over the speaker, “is there a pratt in the house”.
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I think his original surname suited him better!
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Good story ~ and a good way to advertise wasting money for solicitors to do a job that you can do yourself for nothing.
Word to the wise for all potential name changers out there. You don’t need a deed poll. Anyone can lagally change their name to anything they want. I did 17 years ago. All you need to do is write to all the relevant people with your new name and hey presto, it’s done. It is not against the law unless you try to avoid criminal responsibility by doing it. Deed polls in law are not worth the paper they are written on, so don’t waste your money!!!!!!
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ohforgoodnesssake – You still haven’t legally changed your name though, basically it remains a nickname, if you tell your mates to call you “Winston” instead of your real name it remains a nickname….
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genuinely mr pratt lives up to his name
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What a complete pratt.
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Good for him. At least someone round these parts has a sense of humour.
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people like this are holding bakc business and the red tape (from brussels) which supports this in the name of workers rights should be banned
shameful episode shows labour isnt working
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In response to “ohforgoodnesssake” – it is possible to change your name by usage – you choose a name and start using it. However, since the Asylum and Immigration laws changed – no Government Institution or Bank – will acknowledge a change of name unless they are presented with declarations in the form of a deed poll. To this end, when you sign a deed poll you declare that you are renouncing, relinquishing and abandoning the use of the former name – thus it does not remain a nick name.
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Brilliant. Good on him. However, I lost all respect for him when I saw his emo haircut. If he was a true BW fan he’d shave his head…
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Bruce Willis chris Pratt is one sexy son of a gun. yipee-kay-aye!!
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Was Bruce Willis in Vest Side Story?
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silly story
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Loser.
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I’m amazed that tory boy managed to turn this into a classic Daily Mail Labour/EU is rubbish issue. Well done for peddling that tripe in any circumstance possible.
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Chris Pratt may have changed his name by Deed poll to Bruce Willis,a little bit of trivia which anyone may already know (especially if you have seen the Norwhich union/Aviva insurance advert with Bruce Willis) Bruce Willis was born Walter Btuce Willis.
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