Is My High School Sweetheart Your Biological Father? | KARAMO

I didn't have a father growing up. My mother told me he died before I was born. I kept in contact with my father's family up until 4 years ago. That's when one of his family members physically assaulted me. I went to Chicago to see this family member, and she just seemed so mad at me. I was wondering why she was so mad, so I confronted her about it. And she punched me in my face while I was on top of the staircase. I was 15 years old. I've never been punched before, and that was from an adult. She then began to tell me that my father is not my father and that she wants a DNA test. I didn't tell my mother what she said. Being punched in the face was bad enough. I didn't want to tell my mom about what she said about my father. So I didn't. I just was protecting my mom. Then a year ago, I found a DNA test in my mother's closet. That's when she told me about a man named Bobby who could potentially be my father. I just wanna know who my father is.

Well, listen everyone, we will meet Madison shortly, but let's start with her mother, Shaquita, to hear her side of the story. So welcome to the show.

Thank you.

So how do you feel about this entire situation?

Oh my God, I'm so, I just feel like I would never be in this situation. Growing up, you always think you would know who your child's father is, and going through something like this is very embarrassing for me to go through something like this. So.

So tell me about your relationship with the man you thought was Madison's father.

Oh, Kenneth, Kenneth was a great guy. I was 3 months pregnant and he got killed just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

And how was his family towards you after he died?

Well, thank God that he did let his mom know that I was pregnant with his child. I didn't get a chance to meet them until the funeral. So they knew of me. And thank God that they did because I wouldn't have known what to say, how to say it, but he did let them know about it.

So how did Bobby fit into all this then?

Well, Bobby is a longtime childhood sweetheart. It's in high school and off and on throughout the years. And he always been a part of my life.

When you got pregnant, did you ever think Bobby could be the father?

Well, I did not. I always thought Kenneth was the dad. I never thought that Bobby could be the dad until he brought it up one day, was like, do you think that Madison is my child? And I'm like, no, it's Kenneth's.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I didn't want him to— I'm like, no, it's Kenneth's. And once he said that, it kind of opened up something in me, was like, oh, God. Maybe he could be the dad. It was a possibility. It was a possibility. I was just in denial being the person who I was and never wanted this to happen to me. Never thought it could happen to me like, oh, I'm the one.

I mean, you shouldn't be embarrassed. I mean, from my point of view, because you were with somebody, he said this is my child. You had a sweetheart. We've all been in these situations where you've You know, I have anyway. I don't know about the rest of y'all, where it's like, you know, you have somebody that you've been in love with for a long time that is sort of a comfort to go back to. And sometimes situation happens, you know what I mean? What I appreciate is about once your daughter found out that you said, let me step up and handle it. Because some parents would've been like, no, let me keep the secret. I wanna keep, I'm not gonna tell you. I mean, I can't tell you how many times I sit on this stage and people are like, I'm not gonna give you the answers. At least you're trying to find the answer. You know what I'm saying? Well, let's talk to Madison and hear her side of the story. So everyone, please welcome Madison to the show. Hey Madison.

Hi, Karamo.

Thank you for being here.

Hi, baby.

So how do you feel about what she said?

I feel that everything that she said, it makes sense. Like honestly, my mom's been here for me like my whole life, you know? So she's been like, She's been my number one, you know? So everything she's saying is true.

How did you first hear that your dad might not be your dad?

Well, I first heard through the family member. So I went out there and the first red flag was that she distanced me away from my other family out there. So I was like, what are you doing? Oh, I can't be over there. You can't go over there anymore.

What?

Like, why can't I go over my other family member's house? Second, I seen like she was being like a little bit disrespectful towards me. She was going through my phone and then she was looking through my feed. She seen that it was two girls on there. So like, well, she seen that that was what I was into, that I was into women and I was gay. So she didn't really like that. I feel like that's what drove her to doing all the crazy stuff that was after the fact. Yeah, so after that she changed the Wi-Fi password. And the crazy part about it was the Wi-Fi password was my name. Like, how you gonna change my name from the password? She's on the phone being petty, calling the people like, "Oh yeah, yeah, I need to change this password because I don't want it to be that no more." And how did it get physical?

When did the physical assault happen?

So once I went upstairs, I'm not gonna lie, I did confront her like, What's going on? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong? And she told me, you're not gonna talk to me how you talk to your mom. And that's when she began to put her hands on me. And I don't understand, how do I talk to my mom? I'm very respectable. I'm very respectful. So I don't understand where did she get that story that I talk to my mom in a weird way. After that, yeah, I went upstairs and she ended up, I was confronting her and she punched me in my face. And she began to hit me and say things out her mouth like, "Oh, you're not your dad's," and that, "I can't believe you disrespected me." But it was like she was talking to somebody else, not me.

How was your relationship with that side of the family before this? Was it good?

No.

Got it.

Yeah. They were always making me the odd one out because he does have other kids. So his other, like, they would treat me differently from his other kids. So I'm like, okay, well something's different here. I don't think I'm a part of this family. I don't wanna be, you know? So yeah, that's how I felt.

So what was it like when you found that DNA test in your mother's closet?

I was happy. I was happy about it.

I'm like, what?

Well, maybe I'm not his family. Like, you know, I'm not related to them. Oh, that's why something is wrong with my life.

Something is different. It gave you some clarity.

Yes.

Yes.

So what did your mother tell you about Bobby?

Well, she told me, well, she didn't, she told me a little bit, like I knew of him because I know they spoke briefly on the phone sometimes. I never knew like what his position was like in my life, but I knew that he was someone that my mom knew. He was very cool. I did my own research on him once my mom told me what was going on. He might be my father, I was like, oh, okay. I was like, let me search that Facebook. So I went on Facebook and I was like, searched up his name. I'm like, okay, it looks, we look alike. We look like the same person. Like that might be my dad. Yeah, so I was just like.

So you think y'all two look alike?

Yeah, we do. Yes, we definitely do. Like when I searched his, when I searched it, I seen that he rapped and I am a performer. I rap also. So I was like, we have a lot of things in common. I was like, okay, maybe.

Okay, like you started feeling, okay then, okay then. So the similarities, you look alike, you both rap, anything else that made you feel like you had some similarities?

He, like, when he was talking to my mom, he seemed a little nonchalant and that's how I am. I'm very nonchalant towards situations. I'm like, okay, well, it is what it is. I love to live my life and I'm like, if that's the case, then that's what it is.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Does it bother you that you had to grow up without a father?

Yes, it bothered me because it just made me feel like I seen other people with their fathers and I'm like, well, I want a father, I want someone. It's certain, it's okay, Mom.

I know, it makes me feel so bad that you have to go through that. And I never wanted you to feel that way growing up. I always wanted you to have a dad, not even thinking that Kenneth was gonna get killed when when I was 3 months pregnant. So I do apologize, baby. I'm so sorry. You know, I do, I do, yeah, I do.

I know, but in my opinion, the way you raised me, it was in your control, but it was out of your control at the same time. So it was like, I know I never put the blame on you because you're like a mom and a dad to me. And the way you raised me, you raised me to be a good, you know, I'm doing good. I'm doing good, I'm in college, you know, I'm doing good for myself. You're the greatest mom ever, literally. Greatest mom ever. Okay, right? Better take that over there, right? Seriously.

I love you so much. Thank you, thank you.

So what are you hoping the results will say today?

I'm hoping that he's my dad, yeah.

Have you ever met Bobby in person?

No, I've never met him.

You haven't met Bobby in person? Okay then. Well, I think it's time for Madison to meet her potential father. So everyone please welcome Bobby to the show. Welcome to the show, Ivan.

Hey.

Hey, Karamo. How are you doing?

All right, all right.

Thank you for being here. So how do you feel about what was just said?

It's a big overwhelming 'cause I really never knew.

Yeah.

You know, it was like almost 20 years ago, so.

Yeah, yeah.

You knew.

I really never knew.

I told you, I had, you know, we talked about it once before, maybe a couple of times.

And what did I ask you?

And I said it could be a possibility, yeah.

So how do you feel meeting Madison right now for the first time?

I feel great.

Yeah.

You know, I hope she is.

Oh, you hope she is?

Yeah.

Yeah, we can see it. Do you feel like you see any similarities?

Yeah.

You do see similarities, okay. Do you have any other children?

Yes, I have 4.

Yeah, you have other 4 other children.

Mm-hmm.

So what would it be like to have Madison come into your life then if she is potentially your daughter?

It wouldn't bother me, I would love it. I mean, I wish I would've knew earlier.

Yeah.

I could've introduced them and they could've grew up together or something, but you know.

There's time.

It is what it is.

So I heard you're both musicians. Yeah, I do. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So you had the connection. How does that feel to know that you potentially, this is your daughter? There's that connection there.

It actually feels great, you know?

Okay. And how's y'all relationship been?

It's been okay.

It has been okay?

It's been okay. We've been friends through the years, so yeah.

'Cause y'all been in high school? Yeah. High school?

We was in high school.

High school sweethearts?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay then.

Yeah.

Well, I think it's time to unlock the DNA truth. Madison, this is your truth to open, so I'm gonna let you open this.

Okay. Thank you.

Oh my gosh.

Oh my goodness. Finally, okay.

Okay, okay, but before you open it, oh my goodness. Oh God. I just want you to know that I do apologize to you. I'm so sorry that it took this long for you to find out Who's your dad, okay?

Okay.

I do, I love you so much.

I love you too, Mom.

I do, I love you so much.

It's okay, give me a hug. I love you, Mom. You know I got you. It's been me and you from forever. Yeah. Yeah. This is really like crazy because, you know, I never thought, you know, this day would come. I've had moments where I'm just like, well,, you know, who's my dad, you know, what would I do, you know, if this moment came and it's here. And it's really scary.

Thank you, Momo, for helping us with this.

You're welcome, Momo, it's your deal. Okay, let me open it. Oh my God! Robbie is your biological father!

I am so sorry, baby.

Oh, wow.

This is your father. How do you feel?

I feel great.

How do you feel?

This is your daughter. This is real. This is real.

And I know I was looking at your feet before you came in. Tomorrow's your birthday, isn't it?

Yes. It's her birthday, Karamo. Happy birthday.

What a birthday it is.

Yeah. This is the best birthday ever. Oh my God.

I actually do think there's something special about the fact that the day before your birthday you find out who your father is. Oh no. That's perfect. Yeah.

Yeah. Oh my goodness. I'm so excited.

So what's going through your mind? Anything you wanna say to him?

Oh man. Oh man. So much. So much. So much.

Yeah.

Well, I'm glad to know. I'm glad to know. Glad to know.

Yeah.

Well, you know, you're both artists. But your song together has yet to be written. So I'm so excited for you both. Y'all about to make a beautiful life in music together and I'm very excited for y'all.

Yay, Charlie. Thank you so much.

You're so welcome.

This is good.

This is good.

I am so floored right now.

It's crazy 'cause I feel like I knew it. Like I was saying like, I swear we look alike. Like this is my father. And I kept telling my mama, No. I'm like, yeah, that is.

It looks like him. I wasn't cheating.

Yes, I was. That's so crazy. I don't even know how to feel right now.

It's gonna take you a moment to process. I'm gonna tell you, it takes a moment to process because the range of emotions that are gonna be coming through you right now. But the beauty of it is that you have two supportive parents that are both here that wanna show up for you, that wanna give you the love you need. And what I also love is that you have a great relationship. So the co-parenting is gonna be easy. Be great now. There's forgiveness, there's love here. I'm so excited for y'all. I'm so excited for y'all. Thank you.

Yeah.