A 9-year-old Kansas City Chiefs fan innocently donned a costume with red and black face paint to support his favorite team at the game against the Raiders. Little did he know that this innocent act would unleash a storm of controversy, with some folks even labeling him as a racist.
The situation escalated when the Native American tribe stepped in to smooth things over, but their attempt triggered a fan frenzy.
Tribe’s official response on 9-year-old Chiefs fan’s provocative costume
A young Chiefs fan, Holden Armenta, faced accusations of racism for wearing a costume involving black and red face paint and a Native American headdress during a Chiefs-Raiders game, in which Patrick Mahomes performed incredibly.
Deadspin journalist Carron J Phillips wrote a scathing article, accusing Armenta of racist and disrespectful actions, questioning whoever helped him come up with the inappropriate attire.
“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,” Phillips wrote.
He continued, “Despite their age, who taught that person that what they were wearing was appropriate?”
Holden’s mother defended him on Facebook, revealing that he and his grandfather, a council member for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, are Native American.
“Just stop already… He is Native American. This has nothing to do with the NFL. Also, CBS showed him multiple times and this is the photo people chose to blast to create division.”
Amid this online clash, a native American tribe decided to handle the situation. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians issued this statement.
“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,” said tribal chairman Kenneth Kahn.
The tribe distanced themselves from Holden’s actions, stating they don’t endorse wearing regalia as part of a costume or cultural appropriation.
“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.”
Phillips shared the tribe’s statement on social media with eye emojis, continuing to criticize Holden’s actions. The Kansas City Chiefs have not addressed a statement on this matter yet.
NFL community reacts to native American tribe’s official statement
The Chiefs fans, who recently raised voice for Chris Jones criticized the native American tribe for condemning a 9-year-old, emphasizing the child’s innocence and support for his football team.
Various Twitter users expressed disagreement with the tribe’s stance, accusing them of ideological blindness and criticizing the perceived overreaction to a child’s Halloween costume.
“Imagine wanting to cancel a 9 year old for wearing a Halloween costume…you’re a sad excuse for a man,” a fan wrote.
The user criticized others for being ideologically blinded, suggesting that condemning a 9-year-old for wearing a football team costume is extreme and sickening.
Another user agreed with the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of individual decisions. The call to “stop doubling down” suggested a plea to reconsider or retract the criticism aimed at the 9-year-old.
Twitter reactions ranged from defending the child’s right to support his team to skepticism about the authenticity of certain claims, highlighting the divisive nature of the incident.
“Why do I feel like this is not a real email,” one fan wrote.
The incident brought to light ongoing debates about cultural sensitivity, appropriate attire, and the impact of social media in shaping public opinion. We hope for the safety and well-being of the young Chiefs fan involved, allowing him to resume a tranquil and undisturbed life.
