Young Chiefs fan responds to “blackface” accusations after painting face for game: “It’s a bit scary.
A Young Kansas City Chiefs Fan Responds to False Racism Allegations
A young Kansas City Chiefs fan has spoken out against allegations made by a Deadspin writer, who falsely accused him of wearing ”blackface” during a recent game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The 9-year-old boy, Holden Armenta, and his father, Bubba Armenta, appeared on Jesse Watters Prime Time to address the controversy.
“It’s been a lot. It’s been a pretty crazy couple of days,” Bubba said. “I was mad, upset for him. I’m mad that he’s upset. He’s pretty devastated. I mean, he’s seen the videos and everything posted.”
Holden’s dream was to appear on the jumbotron, and he was thrilled when he achieved it. However, the racism allegations quickly overshadowed his excitement.
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
Holden admitted that while he’s happy about the support he’s receiving from his schoolmates, he’s also starting to feel nervous about the attention. He expressed concern that things might escalate and become scary.
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The controversy began when Carron Phillips, the Deadspin writer, accused Holden of hating both Black people and Native Americans by wearing an American Indian headdress and painting half his face red and the other half black. Phillips focused solely on the supposed “disrespect” without considering the boy’s support for the football team.
After facing backlash online, Phillips refused to back down from his accusations. However, the Community Notes feature on X clarified that the writer had failed to provide the full context of the boy’s face paint, which was meant to show support for the Chiefs.
Holden’s mother, Shannon Armenta, defended her son on Facebook and criticized the sports blog for creating division. She emphasized that the incident had nothing to do with the NFL and highlighted that Holden is Native American.
Holden comes from an American Indian family, and his grandfather is a member of the Chumash tribe in Santa Ynez, California, according to The Post Millennial.
What does Holden’s story reveal about the dangers of social media and the need for responsible use
Against the false allegations. “I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I was just excited to be on the jumbotron and support my team,” Holden said during the interview.
It all started when Deadspin writer Carron J. Phillips, accused Holden of wearing “blackface” during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The false allegation quickly spread across social media, causing outrage and condemnation towards the young fan.
However, upon closer examination of the pictures and videos, it is clear that Holden was not wearing blackface. He had painted his face in the team’s colors – red and yellow – to show his support. The misunderstanding arose due to the lighting and angles of the photographs, which made the colors appear darker than they actually were.
Holden’s father, Bubba, expressed his frustration over the false accusations made against his son. “It’s incredibly disheartening to see people rush to judgment without knowing the full story,” he said. “We live in a time where instant outrage and cancel culture prevail, and innocent people, like my son, are unfairly targeted.”
The incident highlights the dangers of jumping to conclusions based on limited information or misguided interpretations. Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for false allegations and witch hunts, with little regard for due process or the potential harm caused to innocent individuals.
Holden’s story also sheds light on the impact such false accusations can have on young individuals. At just 9 years old, Holden experienced immense distress and felt devastated by the backlash he faced on social media. This serves as a reminder that we should be cautious and responsible with our words before accusing others of wrongdoing.
Fortunately, Holden and his father received overwhelming support from the Kansas City Chiefs community and fans across the country. Messages of encouragement and solidarity flooded their social media accounts, with many people apologizing for the misunderstanding and expressing admiration for Holden’s passion for his team.
It is important to acknowledge the power and influence that social media holds in shaping public opinion. While it can be a force for good, it can also be used to spread misinformation and tarnish reputations. Therefore, it is crucial that we exercise critical thinking and verify the facts before joining in the social media frenzy.
In conclusion, the false racism allegations made against young Kansas City Chiefs fan Holden Armenta serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of jumping to conclusions and the need for responsible social media use. It is imperative that we take the time to fully understand and verify the facts before making accusations, especially when it comes to potentially damaging someone’s reputation. We owe it to ourselves and to others to foster a culture of empathy, understanding, and fairness in our online interactions.
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