Deadspin loses bid to toss defamation suit over article accusing young Chiefs fan of racism
A Delaware judge has refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against sports website Deadspin over an article accusing a 9-year-old NFL fan and his family of racism because of his game-day attire.The lawsuit was filed by California residents Raul Armenta Jr.and his wife, Shannon, on behalf of themselves and their son, Holden, who attended a game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders last November.According to the lawsuit, Holden, referred to in the lawsuit as “H.A.”, is a Chiefs fan who also loves his family’s Chumash-Indian heritage.
He wore a Chiefs jersey to the game, with his face painted half-red and half-black, and a costume Native American headdress.Holden got the opportunity to pose with Raiders cheerleaders and was also shown briefly during the television broadcast of the game, with his red-and-black face paint visible.
An Associated Press photographer also captured an image of Holden showing both sides of the boy’s painted face.However, using a screenshot that showed only the side of Holden’s face painted black, Deadspin writer Carron Phillips published an article the next day accusing the boy of being racist.“The NFL needs to speak out against the Kansas City Chiefs fan in Black face, Native headdress,” the headline on the article reads.“They’re doubling up on the racism,” a subhead reads.
“Are you going to say anything, Roger Goodell?” — a reference to the NFL commissioner.In the article, Phillips wrote that the boy had “found a way to hate black people and the Native American at the same time.” He suggested that the boy had been taught “hatred” by his parents.Deadspin posted the article on X, generating more than 18,000 comments and a “community note” clarifying its falsity.Phillips, described in the Armentas’ lawsuit as “someone who makes his livelihood through vicious race-baiting,” nevertheless doubled down.“For the idiots in my mentions who are treating this as some harmless act bec...