Do I Have The Wrong Man's Last Name?! | KARAMO

What was your childhood like growing up?

So I was taken away from my mother at the age of 3 and put into foster care. And I wasn't raised with— I was raised in a house full of women, 6 women.

Yeah.

Femininity all over the place. Oh my gosh. It was a lot. I grew up kind of in a difficult home. It wasn't the best being disciplined, raised, you know. I didn't have— any good guidance growing up.

Got it.

So, you know, yeah.

Yeah. Did you have any male figures in your life?

I did not have any male figures in my life at all.

Wow.

Yeah.

Wow, wow, wow. So let's see if it makes more sense to me why this is important for you to find who your father is.

Yes, very important.

Okay. So when did you start searching for your father?

I started searching for my father really since I was a kid. Since I can get on social media and figure out who he is. I got different names growing up, so I would like search, but I can never find anyone. So like it was kind of hard searching for him growing up.

Yeah.

So yeah.

'Cause I know you were put in foster care because you didn't have your biological mother. When did you actually meet her as well?

I met her at the age of 17 in person at my prom send-off actually.

Oh wow, at your prom send-off?

Yeah.

Amazing. So did she tell you anything about your father at that time?

She gave me a nickname and that's all she gave me. So, and it was kind of difficult going based off nicknames. I asked her a lot of times who my dad was.

Yeah, okay. And how did you find out about Leroy?

So I made a Facebook post in 2023 and I just said like, I wish I knew who my dad was. And then a cousin of my mom's actually got on the post and she said, well, I know your daddy and you look just like him. And I'm like, what? I'm like, what?

You look just like him. Really never seen or met him or seen. Listen, I'm curious. He looks just like you.

Oh my gosh. Wow. So like, I was kind of like, okay, that's a little odd. Okay, somebody gimme something.

Well, it's so crazy because she said this so casually.

Like why not just let, give the dad And I've been asking, mind you, I put multiple Facebook posts up about him and this is the first time she's gotten on a post and said something. And I'm like, so you gonna tell me, gimme some type of info.

Yeah. So then what was your first interactions like with Leroy?

So she told me that he was incarcerated and she gave him my number and he called me actually from the prison. And so like when I got that call and he was just like, "Hey, this is your dad." It kind of threw me off a little bit. I was a little nervous on the phone because like, mind you, I've never had someone tell me, "I'm your dad." So that kinda made me, not uncomfortable, but like, I didn't know how to feel.

You felt anxious.

Yeah, like, I've been looking for you all my life and like, all of a sudden I just get the call saying, "I'm your dad." It just made me feel like a little weird, you know?

I'm like, "I don't know." Yeah, so what was your mother's reaction to all this?

Hmm, so she's actually very upset at me. But when I told her like, "I didn't come here for you." Honestly, like I came here for me and to get answers for myself.

Of course, of course, okay. But I'm confused of why she would be upset that you got getting the answers.

That's the same things I'm trying to figure out. Like, are you confused or embarrassed 'cause you feel like he might not actually be my dad?

I'm gonna find out for sure. That's what I'm questioning. Is that why she's doubting it? And she doesn't, hmm. Because to say like she feels like you're gonna embarrass her, you finding out your identity could never be an embarrassment to her.

Yeah, like this is my truth, my life. Like why are you like trying to take that away from me?

Yeah.

So you want the DNA test for you for what reason then? Make sure it's clear.

I want it for clarity for myself because I kept, all my life I've been getting he say, she say, like, oh, he's your dad. Oh, well, he's not your daddy. This person's your daddy. 'Cause I'm running around with a whole 'nother man's last name if he is not my father. And that hurts me a lot.

Because Leroy and you do not have the same last name?

No.

Oh, wow. Have you ever met Leroy in person?

I have not.

You've never met him in person?

No, and I'm very excited and anxious.

Okay, well, It's time, Destiny, for you to finally meet your potential father. So everyone, please welcome Leroy to the show.

Let me look at you. Oh, you so beautiful.

How you doing, Seth?

Nice to meet you, Seth.

Nice to meet you.

I love your show, Karamo. Thank you, brother.

I appreciate that.

Wow.

If you don't mind me sharing, And you just said the sweetest thing. You said this is the happiest moment of your life. Let me give this to you, brother. You said this is the happiest moment of your life. You whispered that to her.

Yeah. Well, it's a few months I've been going through some life. Just a few weeks ago, I lost my nephew.

Yeah.

And it bust my soul open.

Yeah.

But then to meet my daughter.

Yeah.

In person, my potential daughter in person for the first time. It brought electricity into my life.

I'm glad.

Me and her just been constantly talking. But before I go any farther, I wanna say something to my mom.

Of course you can.

Listen, I just wanna say I'm sorry for everything you went through as a child. Had I knew what I knew now, I would've been there. You'd have been with me. I'd have been by your side. I would've never went back to prison. You would know your whole family. And I know for a fact you wouldn't have none of this bad anger feeling, whatever you have about what you went through. But believe this, I'm here now.

That's right.

And I'm gonna be here from this point on out. I love you.

I love you too.

Can you tell me, thank you for sharing that. Can you tell me about your relationship with Destiny's mother?

It was complicated.

Yeah.

I was in and out of prison. I didn't actually, didn't even know that I had a daughter with her until the last time I went to prison.

Yeah.

And I was looking for her.

Uh-huh.

There's a guy I grew up with in Chicago. He actually know her mom's cuz.

Yeah.

They were dating. He saw me in prison, said, hey man, I ain't seen you in a while. "But forget all that, man, you got a daughter." Yeah. "And she look just like you. Can't nowhere in the world you say that ain't your baby." Yeah. "Matter of fact, I'm finna get up now, I'm gonna get pictures, I'm finna get everything." So the next day we was on the phone.

Yeah. Wow.

Well, we haven't stopped talking since. I was so happy to be released from prison that I think she probably was the first one I called once I came home.

Yeah. It's funny 'cause I do look at y'all and I see the resemblance. Y'all see it? Yeah. Yeah.

She got a baby sister, Sabrina.

She's like me. She look just like you?

Yes.

I sent him a picture when I was about 12, and he showed me a picture of her. Like, we look like the same person.

The same person.

Yeah, identical. Act alike, talk alike, sound alike. Wow. And they both slim, skinny, just like me. So take it from me.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So why do you want this DNA test?

I want my baby to know where she come from. I want her to have her family's last name. You know, my family is, my grandfather was African, you know, so it's a long line of history that I don't know. And with her, the way she been searching for me, I know we gonna find our family history. Everything we need to know.

Yeah, it's amazing.

This is a blessing to me and a blessing to both of us.

Yeah.

For sure.

Destiny, are you ready for the truth?

Yes.

All right, well come with me. Here we go. Destiny, in this envelope is the truth of who you are and where you come from. You have had conflicting stories your entire life. You have searched, you have tried, you have asked questions, you've made posts on Facebook, and it has all led you to one cousin saying, "Hold on, I know who your father is." Yeah. And now you're on the stage meeting him for the first time. In that envelope, it will let you know who you are and where you come from. That's your truth to open, not mine. Good luck.

I've been waiting on this for a very, very long time, y'all. So like, this is kinda, I'm a little nervous, I'm a little shaky. You know, I really do, really do hope you're my dad. I really do, okay? No matter what.

You still my daddy.

No matter what. Woo!

I knew it was you.

Yeah.

Look at this.

Destiny Leroy is your biological father.

Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes. I'm so happy. Woo! Yes! Jesus. To the rooftop, baby. Yeah!

Yes, love that.

Destiny, you said you didn't have any male figures in your life. You got one now.

Yes.

And from what I can tell, you got a great one who is enthusiastic about loving you, caring for you, respecting you, and showing up for you. How does that make you feel to have your truth?

Feel amazing. I feel like I got my protector now, you know?

Yeah.

Somebody I've been looking for forever.

Yeah. How do you feel?

Oh man, I'm ecstatic. Like, I knew it. I knew it was, but I wanted her to have the confirmation because this is what she'd been looking for forever.

Yeah. Yeah.

So I couldn't get mad about nothing she was doing because this is what she needed for herself.

Of course.

And I wanna thank you so much for this. I really do.

I really needed this.

You're welcome. We're always here.

You're so nice.

Thank you. Destiny, you're in Missouri, right?

Yes.

And you're in Memphis?

Yes.

I'm gonna go ahead and buy you a plane ticket so you can go see your dad.

Oh!

Because I need this to happen.

Yes! I need this to happen.

I need this to happen. You said she got family to meet?

Yes! Yes.

I know this is your first time and I don't want it to be a time that passes before you can go. So I wanna make sure we facilitate that. We're gonna get you there immediately. All right?

Yes!

Thank you.

Then you get to sing. Yes, thank you. For your family at your family club?

Yeah, family restaurant. And he been telling me, you need to come sing here.

Okay, I've been telling him to make her sing.

Well, you going. I'm going to make sure you get there. All right, thank you.

Thank you.

You're so welcome. Congratulations. Thank you for sharing your story with us. I'm so happy for both of y'all.

Thank you.