A fan's outfit at a Kansas City Chiefs game went viral after a Deadspin writer accused him of finding "a way to hate Black people and the Native Americans at the same time." The piece, which was written by Carron J. Phillips, critiqued the Chiefs fan who went to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders with a painted face and headdress, but also criticized the NFL for "relentlessly participating in prejudice." Some were quick to attack the writer and the publication, insisting that the fan was not wearing blackface and also pointing out that the fan is a child.
The child's mom, Shannon Armenta, posted on Facebook defending her kid's outfit and asserting that he is Native American. She shared many photos of her son at the game, writing "the players even loved it!"
She also shared articles written about the controversy, tagging and correcting news outlets that she believed misinterpreted the situation. "Again not a full black face. Get it right!" she wrote in response to one article, since her son's face was painted black on one side and red on the other.
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In another post, she wrote that her son is actually Native American, which some people, especially conservative pundits, interpreted as proof that the costume was not offensive. "This has nothing to do with the NFL," the mom wrote on Facebook. "Also, CBS showed him multiple times and this is the photo people chose to blast to create division. He is Native American – just stop already."
The original Deadspin article was updated on November 30 to include a statement from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, which the boy's family is reportedly affiliated with. “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," the statement read.
"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. 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," the statement continued.
What stood out to many critics of the Deadspin article was not the allegations but the fact that the writer wrote a piece criticizing a young child.
"Dude, it was a kid supporting his favorite football team," one person wrote on X. "Nothing more, nothing less."
The Kansas City Chiefs banned fans from wearing headdresses at Arrowhead Stadium in 2020. Face paint was not banned, but there are some restrictions. "Any face paint that is styled in a way that references or appropriates American Indian cultures and traditions will be prohibited," according to the policy.
Though this policy exists at Arrowhead Stadium, it is not enforced everywhere. Sunday's game was at Allegiant Stadium in Nevada.
"We are grateful for the meaningful conversations we have had with all of these American Indian leaders. It is important that we continue the dialogue on these significant topics, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future," the team said in a statement in 2020.
