Young Kansas City Chiefs fan is accused of racist blackface by reporter – even though other half of child’s face was painted RED to match team’s colors
- Sports publisher Deadspin has accused a young Kansas City Chief fan of wearing racist blackface despite photos showing him wearing team colors
- The young fan was also pictured wearing an Indian headdress, which has reportedly been banned by the club since 2020
- Reporter Carron Phillips was criticized online for using a ‘dishonest’ image and targeting a child
Sports outlet Deadspin has accused a young person Kansas City Chiefs’ fan of wearing racist blackface, despite photos showing him wearing team colors all over his face, as well as a Native American headdress.
The commotion started when a photographer of the young fan, taken in profile, showed his face painted black.
Sports reporter Carron Phillips wrote later Monday that “a Kansas City Chiefs fan found a way to hate black people and Native Americans at the same time.”
But others pointed out that the other half of the child’s face — a half not seen in the first photo — was painted team color red.
He also took a shot at the headdress, which the team has banned since 2020, saying the fan was “doubling down” on racism by wearing clothing that some consider “cultural appropriation.”
Deadspin has accused a young Kansas City Chief fan of wearing racist blackface despite photos showing him wearing team colors
The young fan was also pictured wearing an Indian headdress, which is believed to have been banned by the club since 2020. The fan was pictured at a match in Las Vegas.
Many indigenous communities consider wearing Native American clothing a cultural appropriation of costume, which means the superficial or inappropriate use of another people’s cultural expression.
Blackface is the painting of a non-black person’s skin darker to typically mock or imitate a black person.
Phillips also takes aim at the NFL in the article, writing, “If the NFL had banned the chop at Chiefs games and been more aggressive in changing the team’s name, we wouldn’t be here.”
Deadspin states that if the league changed the name of the Chiefs in the same way the Washington Redskins became the Commanders, the problem would not have arisen.
Several sports teams have faced increasing pressure in recent years to change their names and mascots, which may be considered offensive to some.
The Cleveland Indians switched to the Cleveland Guardians in February 2021 after facing mounting criticism for dropping the “Indians” nickname.
Sports reporter Carron Phillips wrote later Monday that “a Kansas City Chiefs fan has found a way to hate black people and Native Americans at the same time.”
While the Chiefs have received less criticism than other teams’ calls to change the Native American references, their use of the tomahawk chop remains.
Although the Chiefs have received less criticism than other teams’ controversy, talk remains of their use of the tomahawk chop, a celebratory move that involves using the forearm repeatedly forward and back with an open palm to chop a tomahawk to simulate.
The wearing of headdresses and war paint has been prohibited in Arrowhead Stadium since September 2020.
“The answers to all these questions lead back to the NFL,” the article said.
“While it is not the union’s responsibility to prevent racism and hatred from being taught in the home, it is a union that has ruthlessly participated in prejudice.
“If the NFL had banned hacking of Chiefs games and been more aggressive in changing the team’s name, we wouldn’t be here.”
After receiving online backlash from users who claimed it was unfair to target a child and that it was unfair to say the child had blackface, Phillips doubled down.
On
Adding, “You’re the ones who hate Mexicans but wear sombreros on Cinco.”