Deadspin set the internet alight with its misleading report on a young Chiefs’ fan who wore face paint and a headdress to a recent game, alleging that the young man was in “blackface” and the NFL needed to “do something” about that. Never mind that the person at issue was a little kid…or that he wasn’t in blackface, but rather the red and black Chiefs colors, Deadspin went on the attack.
And now that young boy, Holden Armenta, is going on the counteroffensive, appearing on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime” to speak out about the incident and how
Holden’s father, Bubba, said, “It’s been a pretty crazy couple of days. I was mad, upset, upset for [Holden]. I’m mad that he’s upset. He’s pretty devastated. … It was his dream to get on the Jumbotron. And I’ve had family and friends call and say, ‘Oh, we saw you on Sunday Night Football.’ So he’s excited. But then everything else came up and it’s been a little bit of a spiral.”
Holden, for his part, described all the attention he is getting by saying, “It’s okay because a lot of kids at school are getting excited. But it’s starting to get me a little nervous because if they go a little bit overboard, it’s a little scary.”
One further note is that Holden is a Native American. Matt Bruenig, tweeting about that, said, “This has been a wild ride. First, a second photo comes out showing the other half of the face is red. Then, mom reveals that the kid is Native American, not in the wishy washy BS sense but his grandpa is legit in a tribe in the government. What are the odds!”
Bringing up that Native American ancestry, Bubba said, “I don’t even know what to think about [apologizing]. It’s kind of a little too late for that. The damage is already done. It’s worldwide. Now, there’s comments all over. There’s, you know, disrespect towards Native Americans and towards my family. We never in any way, shape or form meant to disrespect any Native Americans or any tribes.”
He continued, “The tribe we’re from doesn’t even wear that type of headdress. …It’s a costume piece. That’s exactly what we had purchased it for and wore it for. Not in any disrespect towards any Native Americans at all. It’s just it’s been a whirlwind of comments coming from other tribes or members. Some think it’s okay. Some think it’s not okay. It’s a nine-year-old boy supporting his team.”
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Watch them on Jesse Watters Primetime here:
Similarly, X personality Collin Rugg posted, “JUST IN: The young boy who was labeled as wearing ‘blackface’ by Deadspin is Holden Armenta. His mother, Shannon Armenta confirmed that her son was the one at the middle of the controversy on her Facebook page. It gets even better: Chiefs players saw Holden during the game and decided to join him with his tomahawk chop. Black players were so ‘offended’ by the “blackface” that they copied Holden’s chop. What an embarrassment for Deadspin.”
Watch Holden at the game here:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video