CBS
Earlier this week, Shannon Armenta, the mom of kid wearing a headdress and face paint at Sunday’s Chiefs game, fired back at critics of her son. On Wednesday, it was his dad’s turn.
By now, most people are aware of the controversy surrounding Holden Armenta. The 9-year-old boy, it was made very clear by his mother, has a grandfather, Raul Armenta, who is a Business Committee Member of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
So, crisis over, right? Right?
Well…
Not until Bubba Armenta, Holden’s dad gets his two cents in, which he did with Fox News host Jesse Waters.
Speaking specifically about a Deadspin reporter, Carron Phillips, who called out his son for being racist before all the facts were in, Bubba said it’s too late for apologies now.
“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 told Waters.
EXCLUSIVE: The 9-year-old Chiefs fan, who was falsely smeared as a racist for supporting his team, speaks out on Primetime.
Holden Armenta says this whole thing has been scary and overwhelming. His father, Bubba, says it's too late for an apology- the damage is already done. pic.twitter.com/8T4WsMsvm6
— Jesse Watters (@JesseBWatters) November 30, 2023
Bubba also said, “It’s, you know, worldwide. Now, there’s comments all over. There’s, you know, disrespect towards Native Americans and towards my family.”
Okay, so now it’s over, right? RIGHT?!
Not quite yet.
Kenneth Kahn, the tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, was asked for his take on the situation by journalist Kevin Blackistone.
His response?
“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,” he said in a statement. “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 Chumash Indians does not endorse wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation.”
Kahn’s thoughts on the matter were more than echoed by at least one Native American on social media.
A headdress is not a costume regardless if our tribe wears them or not, a real Santa ynez Chumash member would know better. OUR CULTURE IS NOT A COSTUME, DONT EMBARRASS MY TRIBE LIKE THAT #pretendians https://t.co/cOhnMlOHTJ
— AnnaMalien🛸 (@iamannamay) November 30, 2023
A whole lot of other people feel a different way though…
I am thoroughly confused. So are they ok with it since he is part Native American and a member of said tribe, or naw?
— Boxing Freaks (@TheBoxingFreaks) November 30, 2023
Story developing… sadly.