Family of 9-Year-Old Defamed Chiefs Fan Launches Lawsuit Against Sports Outlet Who Smeared Him

This just in: The family of a young Kansas City Chiefs fan who was accused of racism by a major sports publication, has just filed a lawsuit.

A few months ago, Deadspin sports reporter Carron Phillips smeared Holden Armenta, a 9-year-old boy who attended a Chiefs game dressed up in a Native American headdress with his face painted the team’s colors — red and black.

In an extensive complaint filed against Deadspin, Holden’s parents assert that the article written by Phillips “maliciously and wantonly” attacked the boy.

Check out the breaking news:

BREAKING: The family of a young Chiefs fan is suing after Deadspin reporter Carron Phillips accused the boy of wearing blackface.

Good 🔥

The complaint was filed against G/O Media Inc. & blasts Deadspin for “maliciously & wantonly” attacking Holden Armenta.

“By selectively… pic.twitter.com/gxmhyhENOF

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 7, 2024

BREAKING: The parents of the defamed 9-year-old Chiefs fan are suing Deadspin.

Deadspin smeared Holden Armenta (9) and falsely accused him of blackface & racism, leaving out the half of his face painted red (Chiefs colors). His grandfather is a Native American tribesman.

The… pic.twitter.com/KZUcFoIJoF

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) February 7, 2024

In the article (which has since been taken down), journalist Carol Phillips slammed the innocent kid for allegedly wearing blackface and cultural appropriation of Native Americans…

But get this: Holden Armenta is a Native American. He belongs to the Chumash tribe, and his grandpa serves on the Tribe’s Santa Ynez board.

According to SportsKeeda:

Holden Armenta’s mother, Shannon, revealed that her son is Native American while quoting the controversial Deadspin article. She posted on her Facebook account:

“This has nothing to do with the NFL. Also, CBS showed him multiple times, and this is the photo people chose to blast to create division. He is Native American – just stop already.”

The Washington Examiner has more details on the family’s lawsuit against the sports outlet:

The family of the young Kansas City Chiefs fan who was falsely accused of racism is now suing the media outlet that wrote the defaming article.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, comes a few months after sports outlet Deadspin published an article accusing 9-year-old Holden Armenta of wearing blackface and committing cultural appropriation against Native Americans at a Kansas City Chiefs football game. The Armenta family had previously asked for a retraction of the initial story and a published apology in December.

“The Article falsely alleged that H.A. had ‘found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time,’” the lawsuit said. “It alleged that H.A.’s parents, Shannon and Raul, ‘taught’ H.A. ‘racism and hate’ at home. It intentionally painted a picture of the Armenta Family as anti-Black, anti-Native American bigots who proudly engaged in the worst kind of racist conduct motivated by their family’s hatred for Black and Native Americans.”

The Armenta family states in their lawsuit that “none” of Deadspin’s story was true, pointing to how half of Holden Armenta’s face was painted black while the other was painted red, mimicking the Chiefs’ team colors. The lawsuit also pointed to how Holden Armenta is of Native American descent, and that the Native American headdress he wore to the game was worn because he loves both his heritage and the Chiefs football team.