Young Chiefs Fan and Dad Break Silence on Blackface Controversy

## SAPO:

Bubba Armenta and his son Holden, who were accused of wearing blackface to a Kansas City Chiefs game, spoke out on "Jesse Watters Primetime" to challenge the allegations and express their disappointment with the lack of an apology.

Bubba Armenta and his 9-year-old son, Holden, have broken their silence on the controversy surrounding their attendance at a Kansas City Chiefs game while wearing what some have misidentified as blackface and a Native American headdress.

The pair sat down with Jesse Watters on "Jesse Watters Primetime" to address the allegations, which they vehemently deny. Bubba explained that they were not attempting to mock any race or culture but rather were simply enjoying the game and celebrating their team.

"We never meant to disrespect any Native Americans," Bubba said. "We were just having fun and cheering on the Chiefs."

Holden echoed his father's sentiments, stating that he was unaware of any racial undertones associated with the headdress and that he had simply worn it because he thought it looked "cool."

The controversy erupted after a photo of the pair at the game was shared on social media, sparking outrage among some who interpreted it as a racially insensitive act. Deadspin, a sports website, published an article accusing Holden of engaging in "blackface" and linking the incident to the Chiefs' history of cultural appropriation.

Bubba and Holden were both deeply distressed by the accusations, which they believe were unfounded and damaging to their reputations.

"It's been really hard for us," Holden said. "We've been getting bullied online, and people have been saying really mean things about us."

Bubba added that he felt the Deadspin article was particularly unfair and that the reporter had failed to investigate the facts thoroughly before publishing it.

"He made a lot of false claims," Bubba said. "It's really frustrating because we've never done anything wrong."

The Armentas said that they had reached out to Deadspin to request a retraction of the article but had not received a response.

"We just want to clear our names," Holden said. "We're not racist, and we never meant to offend anyone."

Bubba expressed disappointment that the Chiefs organization had not publicly defended them, despite the fact that they had been season ticket holders for several years.

"We've been loyal fans for a long time," Bubba said. "We would have expected them to stand up for us."

The Armentas said that they hope their story will help to raise awareness about the dangers of making unfounded accusations based on race.

"It's important to be aware of your surroundings," Bubba said. "You don't want to say something you don't mean or accuse someone of something they didn't do."

Holden added that he hopes people will learn from their experience and think twice before making assumptions about others.

"It's not right to make fun of people based on their race," Holden said. "We're all different, and we should respect each other."