Deadspin may have to pay a high price for trying to “scalp”, or falsely accuse, a Chiefs fan aged nine of wearing blackface.
The boy’s Native American family filed a lawsuit for defamation against Deadspin. Holden Armenta, 9, attended a football match in November wearing a headdress with his face painted. Caron Phillips of Deadspin, a senior writer who is wacky and woke, was offended by this outfit. She accused the boy of being both racist towards natives and African Americans.
Phillips did not mention that Holden had his face painted in black and red. He also didn’t realize that Holden’s grandfather was a member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. Phillips’ serious allegations are now causing the Armentas to go on the offensive.
Nick Kangadis of MRCTV reported on February 8:
The family of the 9-year-old boy filed a lawsuit against Deadspin in Delaware on Tuesday. The lawsuit claimed that “The Article falsely stated that [Holden Armenta] found a way to ‘hate Black people and Native Americans at the Same Time.'” It also claimed that the parents, Shannon & Raul, had allegedly taught [Holden] racism and hatred at home, according to the lawsuit.
Caron Phillips of Deadspin, a senior writer, wrote the piece that sparked the online hysteria and death threats against the young Chiefs fan. The “tolerant” mob on social media attacked the 9-year-old Chiefs fan.
Phillips’ accusation was based on a CBS Sports still that showed only the black side of Holden’s face. Holden’s face painting is a result of the Chiefs’ black and red colors. Kangadis pointed out that Deadspin is biased, and staff were fired for failing to stick with sports articles as the management demanded in 2019.
Phillips, at the time, sneered and mocked Holden for his “Tomahawk Chop”, a gesture that black Chiefs football players make as well. He said the boy, along with the headdress and paint, had “found a new way to hate Blacks and Native Americans simultaneously.” However, Holden is ethnically Native, and the video shows black footballers making the Tomahawk Chop with Holden.
Deadspin said Holden was wearing black face: He wasn’t.
Deadspin said Holden was offending Native Americans: Holden is Native American.
Deadspin said Holden was offending black people: Black players saw Holden and joined in with his tomahawk chop.
I hope Holden is ready for a… pic.twitter.com/b8pselT3rz
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 29, 2023
Phillips wanted to offend so badly that he attacked a boy dressed in the colors of his favorite NFL club to make him look bad to everyone. The Armentas’ lawsuit against Deadspin is understandable. Phillips’ race-baiting was inhumane, brutal, and probably traumatizing for Holden, a 9-year-old. In America, wokeness has turned into a destructive mental illness.