In this episode of Karamo’s talk‑show, Kevin (a gay man who built a chosen family) asks host Karamo to help repair his strained relationship with his transgender daughter Brooklyn. Kevin recounts how he invited Brooklyn to live with him after she faced family rejection, but grew frustrated with her lack of employment and household contributions, ultimately evicting her with harsh language. Brooklyn describes the trauma of being forced out, including a violent wake‑up incident, the removal of her mattress and door, and the added stress of beginning hormone therapy. She also reveals that she and Kevin had previously engaged in a sexual relationship, which both claim has ended. The conversation explores how blurred boundaries affected their dynamic, the irony of Brooklyn’s desire to start a house‑cleaning business while neglecting her own space, and Kevin’s expressed desire to support her potential despite past anger. Karamo mediates, prompting apologies, expressions of love, and a conditional acceptance of reconciliation, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue and time. The episode ends with both parties acknowledging the first step toward healing while recognizing that further work is required.
Chapters
Karamo, I need your help to fix my relationship with my daughter Brooklyn. I wanted Brooklyn out of my house, but not out of my life. As a young gay man, I did not have the support of my biological family. So when I realized that there was such a thing as a chosen family, I started my own family. And we've surrounded each other with so much love and support. And it's meant the world to me. When I took Brooklyn in, I had no idea that our relationship would take the turn that it did. Brooklyn was going through a very difficult time, and I thought that I was being helpful by inviting her to come stay with me. But Brooklyn took advantage of my generosity. I made it clear to Brooklyn that until you actually got a job, your job is getting up every morning looking for work. I got tired of her disrespect. I got tired of her being lazy, not contributing to the house. It really breaks my heart to know that that one argument pretty much stopped everything that we were working on. I really want for her to see her own potential and to realize that she is surrounded with love. Karamo, please, please, please help us to fix this.
Watching that video just pissed me off. I mean—
Why did it piss you off so much?
'Cause I'm not lazy. I literally, at the time that he had put me out, I had literally just started my hormones and that like made me start sleeping a whole lot more. That particular day, he had came to wake me up earlier than what he normally would have. And I woke up to him literally picking up the mattress while I was laying on it. He snatched the COVID off of me and he grabbed me by both my ankles and shook me to wake me up.
I heard you tell my Bruce that he also took the door off the hinges.
Yeah, he did. And that definitely seemed overboard. He also took the bed and the bed frame out of the room.
So at that moment, because you didn't get in depth and get the job, you said he said, "Get outta my house." And that's what happened. He told you just get out. And out of his life as well.
His exact words, "Get the fuck outta my house and get the fuck outta my life." Mm.
And did you ask to move in with Kevin or did he ask you?
He asked me. He even flew me from St. Louis to Philadelphia first class and that was a connecting flight, okay? First class, front row.
Yeah. So he made you feel special. He made you feel like you were family, like this is a new life for you, a new beginning.
Yeah.
So what was happening in Missouri?
My family actually tried to kill me because they don't agree with me transitioning. In a blink of an eye, I got betrayed by both blood and water.
Yeah. I'm sorry about that with your family. I really am. I mean, I know that we hear these stories in our community all the time, but it don't make it any easier. And I'm so sorry. You don't ever deserve that. You're such a bright light and a human being. You gotta strengthen you, queen. You gotta strengthen you, that you are.
Thank you.
Yeah. I appreciate everything that I've heard from your side of the story, but I still need to hear Kevin's side of this story. Everyone, please welcome Kevin to the show. Hey Kevin, how you doing?
Hello, how are you?
I'm good, thank you.
Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you as well.
Yes, you look sharp. Thank you. All right, so why did you kick Brooklyn out?
It was kind of easy. Brooklyn didn't wanna do the work. She wasn't cleaning up behind herself. I took videos and pictures of how she kept her room. So after a while it just got to a point where I was fed up. She is a light. I heard what you said. She is a light and she is my daughter and I do love her. I just feel like I was pushing and pushing till I couldn't anymore to get her to get on her feet and do what she needed to do for her, to be a better person for her.
I got a question for y'all because I'm getting the aspects of some of the relationship, but you told my producers that you two used to have a relationship, a sexual relationship? Yes. So how did that affect your family dynamic?
So I—
Because that's rare.
Yeah.
It's usually the father of the house won't sleep with his kids.
That's, that in our community. I mean, you know how it is. Yeah, yeah, you see how it is.
And it's frowned upon.
And I know, so like me, I'm the one who mentioned that. I brought it up because I feel like the lines was being blurred. We were doing stuff and I'm not gonna say that she didn't enjoy it or I didn't enjoy it or whatever the case may be, but I knew that our—
I said we should stop fucking.
We both went back and forth with that.
Definitely did. But I said I don't want to do it.
But I can see how the lines getting blurred could cause this to be like a relationship that where it's like supposed to be something like a dynamic of father-daughter, it turns into more of a relationship. But I can see how they got, but he's saying that you both have moved on from that or have you not moved on from that?
No, we definitely have. I mean, Brooklyn can tell you that for herself.
Okay, I just wanna make sure. Have you both moved on from the sexual part of your relationship?
Hell yeah.
Okay then.
I don't want him touching on me like that.
Okay then.
What I'm more concerned about is Brooklyn being the best that she can be. I feel like she has so much potential. I feel like she can do so much great in this world, but she has not allowed herself to move past her traumas.
Okay, so if you feel like I'm so great and all this other ish, why then when I tried to start a cleaning company, why didn't you actually try?
—To do what?
—To help me. The only person you gave my information to was your best friend.
You gotta help, you have to explain to me what helping you is because me giving you business advice, me telling you to write out a plan, me telling you to actually put the work in, coming up with a name is not a business.
You had a business plan? Did you have those other things?
No, but it was house cleaning. It's house cleaning. I gotta have like, I gotta have a place to stay.
I also thought that was really ironic that her business was house cleaning, but she wouldn't keep her own house clean.
That's very ironic. Your own room wasn't clean neither.
So I didn't have a house cleaning business. I did not have a house cleaning business.
So I wanna know, would you ever let Brooklyn live with you again?
No.
I don't wanna live with that. I couldn't.
And you know what? The reason why I came to you, Karamo, is because I knew that we could get some type of help. What she said about what I said to her when she left was absolutely true. In my anger, I said it and I justified it 'cause I felt she was being disrespectful and I didn't wanna hear it. But I know that I was wrong and I wanna have the opportunity to fix that.
So he's saying right now that he wants to fix this relationship. Can you forgive him for saying those things to you? Because I understand how it could hurt you of saying, "Get outta my house, get outta my life." I can understand. We've all at some degree have dealt with rejection. But what do you need from him to believe this apology? Because I do think there's something about people who have seen you in your hardest moments who wanna be there for you again to try to rebuild that trust so that you can have that support in your life.
Just need time because, and after that, have not really seen or been around this man until now.
Are you willing to apologize to her again?
Always. Always. The floor is yours. Brooklyn. I love you. And despite our disagreements, you should know that I love you. And if you don't know, let me say it again. I love you. It's not a physical thing. I saw your pain, I saw your hurt as much as I see your light. And I want to see the best version of you possible. And that might not come from my help. I did not wanna lose you. I apologize. I said those hateful things, those hurtful things. That was in anger. And I know that's not an excuse, But you my baby.
What do you feel? How do you feel about what he just said?
Do you still need time or can you accept that apology? I accept your apology on a condition that we need to talk more 'cause just this one little session ain't gonna do not a damn thing.
But it's a start, it's a start. I agree. It's a start, you see? I think y'all took a very healthy first step today. Of finally hearing each other and being able to say, you know what, this is a good step, but we gotta do some more talking. I do think you have love and support here, and I wouldn't wanna see you lose that. I think sometimes right now, as you're leaving this, it's a shift to support. The support doesn't need to be so stern with her. The support needs to be more about like, hey, let's just talk. Let me just be there for you. But I think you made a good first step. How you feel?
Confuzzled.
Listen, can you give him a hug at least? Now there you go, some loving that. Hold up, hold up. Where are you going? I know you wanna watch more Karamo, so click here to subscribe and click here to watch more so we can keep talking and growing, friends. I love you.
