Karamo talks backstage with a teen who's been bullied and got into a physical fight. The teen struggles with a distant biological father who makes broken promises and favors a sibling, while feeling closer to their stepfather. Trust issues from past trauma make it hard to open up, but Karamo's validation creates a moment of real connection.
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How's you doing today?
Good.
It's a little nerve-wracking with all the cameras, right? I know even for me sometimes I get nervous with it. Have you ever done something like this before?
Yes, I did plays and my momma had told me I did pageants when I was little.
Oh wow, you're exceptional then. Did you enjoy it?
Yeah, I enjoyed the play. It's just I did one night. It was one night only because I did not want to go again.
Yeah, okay. If I can be honest with you, your mom told me that you kind of got into some trouble at school. What's been going on?
This girl kept messing with me and bullying me.
Yeah.
To the point that I got ticked off.
Yeah.
And I just beat her up.
Yeah. You got really angry. I understand that. I get angry sometimes too, so I understand that. When you get mad, who can you talk to? Basically, I have this Are you able to talk to your mom or your dad?
Yeah, but sometimes I'll just go home and scream at a pillow and then walk downstairs and do whatever it is to be done.
Yeah. So when are you able to talk to your mom and your dad?
Like, I like talking to my dad in front of my mama, but most of the times I really— sometimes I really don't talk to my mama. But when I talk to my mama, I like being alone with her. Like sometimes I ask if we could, me and her could go out sometimes, even though we probably wouldn't, we sometimes never do it.
Yeah, but you still ask. You want to know. That makes sense. So when you say you talk to your dad, is that your stepfather that you're talking to or?
My stepfather.
Your stepfather. You and your stepfather have a good relationship? Mm-hmm. Yeah. Do you ever get to talk to your real dad? Not your stepfather? No. How often do you talk to your real dad?
Like this year?
Mm-hmm.
I'd probably be like zero times.
And what about in the past? Do you talk to him a lot?
Nope.
Yeah. Do you wish you could talk to him? No. Why not?
It's because every time I talk to him, it's always gonna be some excuse Say, for instance, I've been wanting an iPad, just a regular iPad. My mom and dad, they said they was gonna take care of everything for my Christmas. All I asked for was just an iPad. He made a whole bunch of excuses, and I've been asking for about, say, since I turned 7, so years.
So does your real dad give you a lot of excuses?
Yeah.
How does it make you feel when he gives you those excuses?
Upset 'cause he, to me, you're treating me like I am a little kid when I'm not.
Yeah, yeah. Do you wish that he was around more?
Sometimes, but I know it's never gonna happen 'cause he's always going to be with.
Oh, that's his other child. Do you feel like he chooses over you?
He always does. He showers her with unconditional love. She can ask for something and he'll get it in one day. With me, it's you gotta wait years, years, and years.
So wouldn't you like for him to give you that and treat you that way?
Yeah.
Yeah, I know. Well, if your dad was here today, what would you want to say to him?
That he a deadbeat.
Do you miss him?
Nope.
Why don't you miss him?
Because he never been there, so I don't know you.
So you don't know him to miss him. Yeah. Would you like a hug from him? Why not?
I don't know him. I don't really trust a lot of people. And if I don't know you, I'm not gonna go.
I'm gonna scream, "Yo, I'm not finna go." That sounds just like some stuff that your mom said out there. Your mom told me that too.
It's— I don't, like— Stuff really bad happened in my past to where It's kind of hard to tell which people to trust and which people not to.
I get that. I understand that. So you make sure that you have to be tough to protect yourself, right? I get that. Well, I have to tell you this. You are a very smart and fun young woman. I have had a lot of fun talking to you. Before I go, can I have a hug? Is that okay?
