Dad of Young Kansas City Chiefs Fan Accused of Blackface Says It’s ‘Too Late’ for Apology from Deadspin Reporter

The father of a Kansas City Chiefs fan who was accused of wearing Blackface by a Deadspin reporter said that it was “too late” for the journalist to apologize to his son.

Nine-year-old Holden Armenta was seen on camera wearing red and black face paint and a Native American headdress at a Sunday night game.

The initial camera angle, however, only showed black face paint – making it seem like Armenta was wearing blackface.

Armenta was criticized by senior Deadspin sports writer Carron Phillips for hating “Black people and the Native Americans at the same time."

Armenta’s father, Bubba, told Fox News pundit Jesse Waters that his son was “excited” when he showed up on television, only to then have “little bit of a spiral,” after the backlash from Phillips’ article.

When Waters asked Bubba if wanted an apology from Phillips, he said it was “a little too late for that.” 

“The damage is already done. It’s, you know, worldwide. Now there’s comments all over, there’s, you know, disrespect towards Native Americans and towards my family,” Bubba said. 

“We never in any way, shape or form meant to disrespect any Native Americans or any tribes.”

Armenta does have Native American heritage – his grandfather sits on the board of the Chumash Tribe in Santa Ynez, California, according to the tribe’s official website.

In spite of this, however, Armenta’s attire at the football game had a mixed reception from the Indigenous community. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians issued a statement criticizing the costume.

“Please keep in mind that the decisions made by individuals or families in our community are their own and may not reflect the views of the broader tribal community,” the tribe said in a statement to Front Office Sports.

“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.”