After their son was smeared as a racist for his support of the Chiefs, parents enlisted the law firm behind Fox News’ nearly $800 million settlement with eyes on Deadspin.
Like the cable news network, the sports blog, its owner G/O Media and Great Hill Partners could be facing a Dominion-style problem after running a piece from writer Carron Phillips about nine-year-old Holden Armenta’s so-called “black face.”
The boy’s support for the Chiefs, and Phillips’s representation of it as a display of “racism,” went viral and now, according to a letter obtained by NewsNation, parents Shannon and Raul Armenta hired Clare Locke LLP in pursuit of a retraction — or else.
“These Articles, posts on X, and photos about Holden and his parents must be retracted immediately,” read the letter.
“It is not enough to quietly remove a tweet from X or disable the article from Deadspin’s website,” it continued. “You must publish your retractions and issue an apology to my clients with the same prominence and fanfare with which you defamed them.”
As had been reported, the boy had appeared at the Nov. 26 matchup between the Kansas City Chief and the Las Vegas Raiders wearing a headdress and with his face painted with the team’s colors, black and red. After highlighting an image that only showed the black side of the child’s face, Phillips penned an article that alleged Armenta “found a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time.”
Writer pegged as ‘unapologetic racist’ for accusing child of wearing blackface https://t.co/2hRUtdT1TZ via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) November 29, 2023
Titled “The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress,” the story quickly circulated with users rising to the boy’s defense and shaming the defamatory post from Phillips.
Clare Locke LLP had notably been co-counsel for Dominion Voting System when they had sued Fox News for $1.6 billion alleging defamation for coverage regarding the 2020 presidential election. The network had notably settled for $787.5 million in April.
After making headlines, the fan appeared on Fox News and spoke with the eponymous host of “Jesse Watters Primetime.” It was then that his father reported, “It’s been a lot. It’s been a pretty crazy couple of days. I was mad, upset for him. I’m mad that he’s upset.”
EXCLUSIVE: The 9-year-old Chiefs fan, who was falsely smeared as a racist for supporting his team, speaks out on Primetime.
Holden Armenta says this whole thing has been scary and overwhelming. His father, Bubba, says it’s too late for an apology- the damage is already done. pic.twitter.com/8T4WsMsvm6
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) November 30, 2023
“He’s pretty devastated. I mean, he’s seen the videos and everything posted,” the dad continued, remarking how “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.”
While the letter mentioned it was seeking an apology from the outlet and writer, when the father had been asked directly about that from Watters, he said, “It’s a little too late for that.”
“The damage is already done. It’s, you know, worldwide. Now there’s comments all over. There’s, you know, disrespect towards Native Americans and towards my family,” he continued. “We never in any way, shape or form meant to disrespect any Native Americans or any tribes.”
“It’s a 9-year-old boy supporting his team,” the dad added.
Worth noting, the family had made clear that the boy is Native American, a point acknowledged by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians who added their own statement to Front Office Sports.
“We are aware that a young member of our community attended a Kansas City Chiefs game in a headdress and face paint in his way of supporting his favorite team. Please keep in mind that the decisions made by individuals or families in our community are their own and may not reflect the views of the broader tribal community,” they said. “As a federally recognized tribe, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians does not endorse wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation.”
The grandfather and father are reportedly affiliated with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
The full statement to @FOS ⤵️
“We are aware that a young member of our community attended a Kansas City Chiefs game in a headdress and face paint in his way of supporting his…— A.J. Perez (@byajperez) November 30, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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