The family of a nine-year-old boy, who was falsely accused of wearing blackface at a Kansas City Chiefs game, is taking legal action against the sports blog Deadspin for defamation. The controversy began when Deadspin published an article by Carron J. Phillips, which mistakenly identified the boy, Holden Armenta, as engaging in racially insensitive behavior. The article, titled “The NFL needs to speak against the fan in Black face, Native headdress,” sparked widespread criticism for its inaccurate portrayal of Armenta, who had his face painted in red and black, not blackface, to show support for his favorite football team and to honor his Native heritage.
Holden’s parents, Shannon and Raul Armenta, filed a lawsuit in Delaware, claiming Deadspin and Phillips deliberately ignored the fact that Holden’s face paint included red, thus misrepresenting his appearance and intentions. The lawsuit states, “H.A. did not have a headdress on because he was ‘taught hate’—he had it on because he loves the team and his Native heritage.”
Furthermore, the article accused Holden of hating “Black people and the Native Americans at the same time,” an allegation that the Armenta family strongly refutes in their lawsuit. They argue that the piece painted them as racists, causing them to face severe backlash, including death threats and professional repercussions for Raul Armenta.
Following the backlash, Deadspin issued regrets and updated the article to remove identifying information about Holden and his family. However, the Armenta family claims that Deadspin’s actions were insufficient, as they did not take back the article or offer an apology, and even threatened the family with legal action.
The lawsuit seeks to clear the family’s name and hold Deadspin accountable for what the Armentas describe as a malicious attack on a young child for a “race-drenched political agenda.” The family is seeking unspecified damages and a proper redress for the harm caused by the defamation.
Holden, expressing his confusion and distress over the situation, told NewsNation, “It was scary because I didn’t know what was happening.” The family’s lawsuit underscores their determination to fight against the false narrative and protect their son from further unjust treatment.
Author: Blake Ambrose
