Deadspin adds editor's note to story about kid wearing blackface following lawsuit threat; removes photo, changes headline



Deadspin has added an editor's note to its story that accused a 9-year-old boy of wearing blackface to a Kansas City Chiefs game — and culturally appropriating Native Americans by wearing a headdress to the event — in the wake of a lawsuit threat from the boy's parents.

In addition, the outlet removed the story's photo showing the boy with only half his face painted black — the other half, as it turned out, was painted red, in line with the Chiefs' team colors:

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Deadspin also changed the story's headline and said it took down links and posts related to its initial story.

The editor's note reads as follows:

On Nov. 27, Deadspin published an opinion piece criticizing the NFL for allowing a young fan to attend the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Nov. 26 wearing a traditional Native American headdress and, based upon the available photo, what appeared to be black face paint.

Unfortunately the article drew attention to the fan, though our intended focus was on the NFL and its checkered history on race, an issue which our writer has covered extensively for Deadspin. Three years ago, the Chiefs banned fans from wearing headdresses in Arrowhead Stadium, as well as face painting that “appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions.” The story’s intended focus was the NFL and its failure to extend those rules to the entire league.

We regret any suggestion that we were attacking the fan. To that end, our story was updated on Dec. 7 to remove any photos, tweets, links, or otherwise identifying information about the fan. We have also revised the headline to better reflect the substance of the story.

Here are the details relating to the new headline and photo:

  • The initial headline read, "The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress"; the new headline reads, "The NFL Must Ban Native Headdress And Culturally Insensitive Face Paint in the Stands (UPDATED)."
  • The new photo for the story shows NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

OutKick noted that the updated story also no longer contains the following lead paragraph: "It takes a lot to disrespect two groups of people at once. But on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, a Kansas City Chiefs fan found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time." An updated paragraph now reads: "It takes a lot to disrespect two groups of people at once. But on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, someone in the stands at the Kansas City Chiefs game found a way, leading to lots of unanswered questions."

What's the background?

Last week the parents of Holden Armenta threatened to sue Deadspin and demanded a retraction and apology, NewsNation reported.

In relation to the cultural appropriation accusation, Holden's mother stated on her Facebook page that her son actually is Native American. The Armenta family noted they are part of the Chumash tribe of California and used to live on a reservation, Fox News said.

Holden's father told Fox News' Jesse Watters that he's "mad" and "upset" about the toll the controversy has taken on his son: "He's pretty devastated."

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According to a letter NewsNation said it obtained, Holden’s parents — Shannon and Raul Armenta — hired Clare Locke LLP to threaten action against Phillips, Deadspin, G/O Media, and Great Hill Partners.

“These Articles, posts on X, and photos about Holden and his parents must be retracted immediately. It is not enough to quietly remove a tweet from X or disable the article from Deadspin’s website," the letter reads, according to NewsNation. "You must publish your retractions and issue an apology to my clients with the same prominence and fanfare with which you defamed them."

Prior to the lawsuit threat, Blaze News writer Carlos Garcia pointed out that Phillips, in an effort to double down against numerous critics railing against him, used a non-sequitur that accused them of hating Mexicans.

"For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse," Phillips wrote in an X post, which now appears to have been deleted. "Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco."

As it happens, the posts on Phillips' X account are now protected.

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Parents of 9-year-old boy accused of wearing blackface threaten to sue Deadspin; demand retraction, apology: Report



The parents of a 9-year-old boy accused by a Deadspin writer of wearing blackface during a Kansas City Chiefs football game threatened to sue the outlet and demanded a retraction and apology, NewsNation reported.

What's the background?

The writer of the article, Carron J. Phillips, used a photo for his Deadspin piece showing only half of Holden Armenta's face, which was black. Problem is, the other half of Holden's face was red — one of the Chiefs' team colors:

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What's more, Holden's mother stated on her Facebook page that her son actually is Native American. The Armenta family noted they are part of the Chumash tribe of California and used to live on a reservation, Fox News said.

Dubiously, Phillips wrote in his Deadspin piece that Holden "found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time."

Holden's father told Fox News' Jesse Watters that he's "mad" and "upset" about the toll the controversy has taken on his son: "He's pretty devastated."

Parents reportedly hire law firm

According to a letter NewsNation said it obtained, Holden’s parents — Shannon and Raul Armenta — hired Clare Locke LLP to threaten action against Phillips, Deadspin, G/O Media, and Great Hill Partners.

“These Articles, posts on X, and photos about Holden and his parents must be retracted immediately. It is not enough to quietly remove a tweet from X or disable the article from Deadspin’s website," the letter reads, according to NewsNation. "You must publish your retractions and issue an apology to my clients with the same prominence and fanfare with which you defamed them."

NewsNation added that Clare Locke helped Dominion Voting Systems win a $787.5 million settlement against Fox News.

Anything else?

Blaze News writer Carlos Garcia pointed out that Phillips, in his effort to double down against numerous critics railing against him, used a non-sequitur that accused them of hating Mexicans.

"For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse," Phillips wrote in an X post, which now appears to have been deleted. "Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco."

In addition, a recent update to his Deadspin article notes that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians released a statement "condemning" the "wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation." Strangely, the full statement from the tribe, which is included in the update, does not use the word "condemn" — rather that the tribe "does not endorse" the aforementioned activities.

Holden's father acknowledged in his interview with Watters that he's seen a "whirlwind of comments" about his son's headdress and that some tribal members "think it's OK, some think it's not OK" but that ultimately "it's a 9-year-old boy supporting his team."

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Holden's dad also told Watters that it’s "a little too late" for an apology from Phillips because the "damage is already done."

What's more, Phillips on Thursday posted a pair of entries on the X platform calling attention to a Native American tribe's reaction to Holden wearing a headdress. Phillips didn't use words to preface his pair of posts; instead he employed "eyeball" emojis, which typically are used as a "Look at this!" signal to readers.

In response, X users became furious and were in the process of ratioing each entry into oblivion (i.e., when comments outnumber likes) and blasting him. It appears, however, that the X posts in question have been deleted.

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Angry dad says son has been 'pretty devastated' since Deadspin writer accused 9-year-old of wearing blackface to Chiefs game



The father of Holden Armenta — the 9-year-old boy accused by Deadspin writer Carron J. Phillips of wearing blackface to a Kansas City Chiefs game over the weekend — told Fox News' Jesse Watters that he's "mad" and "upset" about the toll the rather dubious controversy has taken on his son.

"He's pretty devastated," Holden's dad Bubba said of his son, adding that it was his "dream to get on the Jumbotron" for the game.

What's the background?

Phillips used a photo for his Deadspin piece showing only half of Holden's face, which was black.

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As most of us know by now, the other half of Holden's face was red — one of the Chiefs' team colors.

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Blaze News writer Carlos Garcia pointed out that Phillips, in his effort to double down against numerous critics railing against him, used a non-sequitur that accused them of hating Mexicans.

"For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act because the other side of his face was painted red, I could make the argument that it makes it even worse," Phillips wrote in an X post, which now appears to have been deleted. "Y’all are the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco."

What's more, Holden's mother — Shannon Armenta — stated on her Facebook page that her son actually is Native American.

Fox News said the Armenta family noted they are part of the Chumash tribe of California and used to live on a reservation.

Dubiously, Phillips wrote in his Deadspin piece that Holden "found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time."

In addition, a recent update to his Deadspin article notes that the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians released a statement "condemning" the "wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation." Strangely, the full statement from the tribe, which is included in the update, does not use the word "condemn" — rather that the tribe "does not endorse" the aforementioned activities.

What else did Holden and his dad have to say?

Holden's dad told Watters that "we never in any way, shape, or form meant to disrespect any Native Americans or any tribes. The tribe we're from doesn't even wear that type of headdress. This specific headdress is a novelty piece. It's a costume piece. That's exactly what we had purchased it for and wore it for — not in any disrespect toward any Native Americans at all."

Holden's father also acknowledged that he's seen a "whirlwind of comments" about his son's headdress and that some tribal members "think it's OK, some think it's not OK" but that ultimately "it's a 9-year-old boy supporting his team."

In addition, Holden's dad told Watters that it’s "a little too late" for an apology from Phillips because the "damage is already done."

"It's, you know, worldwide. Now, there's comments all over. There's, you know, disrespect toward Native Americans and toward my family," Bubba said.

As for Holden, he told Watters that the reaction so far is "OK 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."

On the positive side, Holden added to Watters that it feels "really good" to know that Chiefs fans apparently are planning to wear black and red face paint at the next game to support him.

Young Kansas City Chiefs fan smeared as racist speaks out: ‘It’s a little scary’ youtu.be

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