Family of boy accused of blackface at Chiefs game sues for defamation

[KARAH RUCKER]

REMEMBER THIS KID?

HE WAS THE CENTER OF A CONTROVERSIAL DEADSPIN ARTICLE.

THE HEADLINE PAINTED HIM AS THE “KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FAN IN BLACKFACE, NATIVE HEADDRESS”

THAT “FOUND A WAY TO HATE BLACK PEOPLE AND NATIVE AMERICANS AT THE SAME TIME” – ACCORDING TO SENIOR WRITER CARRON PHILLIPS.

THE BOY’S FAMILY – IS NOW SUING.

HIS PARENTS SAY DEADSPIN INTENTIONALLY CHOSE A PHOTO THAT DIDN’T SHOW THE OTHER SIDE OF THEIR SON’S FACE – WHICH WAS PAINTED RED, THE OTHER TEAM COLOR. 

HOLDEN ARMENTA IS NINE YEARS OLD.

HIS PARENTS SAY AFTER HIS PICTURE WAS PLASTERED ONLINE –

THE FAMILY WAS EXPOSED TO A “BARRAGE OF HATE INCLUDING DEATH THREATS.”

IN THE DEFAMATION LAWSUIT – HOLDEN’S PARENTS CALLED THE ARTICLE AN “ATTACK” TO FIT THE WRITER’S’ “OWN RACE-DRENCHED POLITICAL AGENDA.”

THE FAMILY IS SEEKING UNSPECIFIED DAMAGES.

ACCORDING TO THE SUIT – THE BOY’S FAMILY WANTED AN APOLOGY FROM DEADSPIN AND THE ARTICLE RETRACTED.

DEADSPIN **AMENDED THE STORY – REMOVING THE IMAGE OF HOLDEN.

AND ADDED AN EDITOR’S NOTE –

SAYING THE ATTENTION WASN’T MEANT TO BE ON THE CHILD. BUT RATHER THE NFL FOR ALLOWING FANS TO PAINT THEIR FACES AND WEAR NATIVE HEADDRESSES.

IN WHAT THE UPDATED ARTICLE CALLED “CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE.”

THIS PARTICULAR PHOTO – WAS TAKEN AT THE RAIDERS ALLEGIANT STADIUM AT A NOVEMBER GAME.

THE STADIUM’S POLICY BANS BODY PAINT.

POLICY AT THE CHIEFS ARROW HEAD STADIUM BANS FANS FROM WEARING INDIAN HEADDRESSES AND FACE PAINT.

THOSE RULES WERE ENACTED AFTER THE CHIEFS STAFF RECEIVED INPUT FROM NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES IN 2014.