Last week, Deadspin smeared a 9-year-old Kansas City Chiefs fan by claiming he wore blackface at a football game. Now, the parents of that kid are threatening action against the website for defamation.
Shannon and Raul Armenta, the parents of young Holden, are taking action to stand up to the publication that smeared their innocent son. Author Carron J. Phillips wrote an “article” that made it seem as though Holden only wore black face paint to a Chiefs game.
However, he used a picture that only showed half of Holden's face, and wrote a rambling article suggesting Holden’s face paint was racist. But if you look at this video, you can clearly see he was just wearing his team’s colors.
JUST IN: The young boy who was labeled as wearing ‘blackface’ by Deadspin is Holden Armenta.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 29, 2023
His mother, Shannon Armenta confirmed that her son was the one at the middle of the controversy on her Facebook page.
It gets even better: Chiefs players saw Holden during the game and… pic.twitter.com/jdIDhcul3Z
As such, the parents have hired Clare Locke LLP to demand that Deadspin retract the story, which remains on the website under Phillips’ byline. Additionally, they have threatened legal action against Phillips, Deadspin, publisher G/O Media, and Great Hill Partners.
Related: UFC President Dana White Calls Out Americans for Lack of Patriotism
“These articles, posts on X and photos about Holden and his parents must be retracted immediately,” the parents and firm said in a letter. “It is not enough to quietly remove a tweet from X or disable the article from Deadspin’s website. You must publish your retractions and issue an apology to my clients with the same prominence and fanfare with which you defamed them.”
Frankly, I can’t think of a more justifiable defamation suit than what the Armenta’s have. Unless out justice system is truly broken, the Arementa’s should get a huge pay day.
The Armenta’s and Clare Locke LLP aren’t the only ones expressing their disgust with Deadspin’s actions.
Ahead of the SEC Championship game, Sen. Mike Collins (R-GA) posted a photoshopped picture of himself wearing face paint. While black and red are the team colors of the Georgia Bulldogs (who lost), Collins made sure Deadspin knew he was trolling them.
Maybe the war paint didn't work. Next time will just have to go all one color. https://t.co/wKhNkAMCbK
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) December 3, 2023
America clearly thinks the Armenta’s are in the right. Hopefully the judge who hears this case thinks so as well.
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