After a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Kansas City Chiefs achieved a historic milestone in Week 12 against the Las Vegas Raiders, securing their head coach-quarterback duo’s fourth win at Allegiant Stadium. This victory propelled the KC team further toward their ambitious goal of reaching the Super Bowl this season.
Nevertheless, amid the Chiefs vs. Raiders nail-biting game, a 9-year-old Chiefs fan gained attention on camera for wearing a headdress and painting his face. Unfortunately, this innocent appearance became controversial, with his mother having to step in to address the situation.
Young Chiefs fan featured on Fox News
The line between enthusiastic support and cultural sensitivity can become blurred, as demonstrated by the recent controversy surrounding a 9-year-old Kansas City Chiefs fan named Holden Amanta. Attending the Chiefs-Raiders game in Las Vegas with his mother, Holden’s spirited attempt to cheer for his favorite team took an unexpected turn.
Decked in red and black face paint and a native headdress, the young fan’s appearance caught the attention of cameras and fellow attendees, earning him a moment in the national spotlight. The iconic “tomahawk chop,” a popular fan gesture at Chiefs games, was also part of Holden’s enthusiastic display, shared by tens of thousands in the stadium.
While many saw this as an innocent manifestation of team spirit, it ignited a heated debate when Carron J Phillips, a senior writer with Deadspin, labeled Holden’s actions as “racist” and “disrespectful” in a scathing article.
“It takes a lot to disrespect two groups of people at once. But on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas, a Kansas City Chiefs fan found a way to hate black people and the Native Americans at the same time,” wrote Phillips, highlighting the perceived insensitivity of the young fan’s choice.
Phillips questioned the appropriateness of the young fan’s attire and expressed frustration toward the parents for allegedly imparting racist values at such an early age.
“Despite their age, who taught that person that what they were wearing was appropriate?”
Phillips, when posting a picture of the kid online, selectively showed only the black-painted side of the boy’s face. It led some to suggest that this was a deliberate attempt to stir a strong public response.
According to Elon Musk, the billionaire proprietor of X, previously recognized as Twitter, it seems to be an intentional attempt to elicit a strong public reaction. Musk accused Phillips of being deceptive in his actions.
Kansas City Chiefs fan’s mom debunks false reports of racism
More details on the controversy surrounding young Chiefs have emerged that provide a nuanced understanding of the situation. Contrary to initial assumptions, Holden’s mother, Shannon, revealed on Facebook that her son is Native American.
Holden and his father, Bubba, appeared on Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News to share their perspective on the controversy. Bubba expressed the emotional toll the situation has taken on his son, emphasizing Holden’s devastation amid the backlash. The boy’s dream of being featured on the Jumbotron, initially a source of excitement, quickly turned into a tumultuous experience.
“It’s been a pretty crazy couple of days,” the father said. “I was mad, upset, upset for [Holden]. I’m mad that he’s upset. He’s pretty devastated. … It was his dream to get on the Jumbotron. And I’ve had family and friends call and say, ‘Oh, we saw you on Sunday Night Football.’ So he’s excited. But then everything else came up and it’s been a little bit of a spiral.,” he said, per Outkick.
Holden’s family background adds another dimension to the discussion. His grandfather, Raul Armenta, holds a position on the board of the Chumash Tribe in Santa Ynez, California. This connection to Native American heritage challenges the one-sided outrage and criticism that initially surrounded Holden’s black face paint and the wearing of a Native American headdress.
What’s your opinion on the high-stakes controversy? Drop your comment in the comment box.
