We Look Alike… But Is He My Father? | KARAMO

What happened when you were 9 years old?

Well, when I was 9 years old, my mother took me to Oakland, California to go visit this man that's supposed to be my father and he wasn't, or I guess he wasn't, so.

Did y'all do a test, do you remember? I mean, you were 9. No. No test.

No test.

So you met him and then he disappeared? I mean, he went to jail? What happened?

So he, when we got to Oakland, California, 30 minutes later, he, the cops had pulled us over for a DUI. He had went to jail.

So did you ever hear anything else about your father after that or this man after that?

No.

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Yeah. So it just was like we had this moment and now he's gone.

It's gone.

So what was your childhood like growing up?

My childhood life was perfect. It was perfect. I grew up with my grandparents and my 4 brothers.

Okay.

And I had a perfect childhood.

That's good. So why were you with your grandparents and not your mother?

Because my mother chose other things than her kids.

Got it. Okay. All right. Did you ever try to find that alleged father on your own?

Yes, I did. When I was 16, my grandmother gave me his first and last name. I looked him up on Google and I didn't get nowhere, so I gave up.

And you're 28 now, so it's 16 you searched for him. And when did Larry enter your life?

Larry had entered my life when I was 2. He has been in my life ever since I was 2. He raised me with my grandmother and his son.

Got it. So that your brother, that's their, his father?

Yes, my oldest brother.

Your oldest brother. And he's been in your life the entire time?

Yes, he has. Larry and I are very close. We're gonna keep continue being closer because He is one of the best, best. Hmm. Oh, sweet thing.

Here you go, love. Here you go. It's okay. He just means a lot to you.

He is one of the best men in my life besides my son.

Yeah, I get it. So what are the similarities that you and Larry share that is where this thing of saying this could be my biological father is?

I get his attitude. Uh-huh. I have his personality. We are very, very, very tall.

Yeah.

I don't know where that came from 'cause my mom is 5'4".

Got it.

And I am 5'11" and Larry is 6'1". Yeah. So, My biological father is 5'5" supposedly, so I don't know where I get this tallness from. My hair and his hair are the similar. We talk alike, we most definitely act alike. So if he's all goofy on one side, that's me. If you wanna be serious, that's me. That's him and me together.

And what did Larry say when you asked if he could be your father?

He told me that it could be a 50/50 chance But I'm most definitely thinking he's my father.

Okay, and what do you call Eric?

I call him Dad, but when I'm mad at him, I call him Larry.

Got it, okay. So why is this DNA test important to you?

Because it's a hole in my heart that needs to be filled. If he is my father, I'm gonna be very happy that he is because that means you're just the one person that's been in my life ever since I was 2.

Yeah. Let me ask this. If Larry isn't your father, are you gonna keep searching? What do you want?

No, I'm not gonna keep searching. Larry is my father at the end of the day.

Got it, good. All right, so everyone, let's hear what, yeah. Everyone, let's hear what Larry has to say about all this. Everyone, please welcome Larry to the show.

I'm the dad around here. I don't need them. Come on, babe.

How you doing?

How you doing, sir? Nice to meet you. Thank you for being here. Oh, I love your tie. Oh yeah, 'cause that's the number one dad on it.

All day long, that's me.

How you doing, man?

I got you. Don't worry about none of this.

So how do you feel about what was just said?

I feel that it don't make no difference about this DNA test. I love her, that's my daughter from day one.

Mm-hmm. Yes.

And I'm always gonna be there for her and my grandson.

So when did you first learn about Tyanna?

I learned about her when I got invited to one of her mom's family dinners and stuff. So I came over and I'm over there just looking at all the kids and then here come a little 3-year-old running up to me talking about, "Daddy." And I was like, "Who baby is that?" And she was like, "That's your daughter." I was like, Well, I do remember that time back in the, you know.

So there is, in your mind, there is a strong possibility this could be your daughter?

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

She said 50, I say 60.

Okay. So how often would you see her then during her childhood?

Probably about 3 or 4 times a year.

Got it.

I met her back again before she was, which was like—

7th.

Yeah, going to 7th. No, you were 7th grade.

Went to jail. Oh yeah, I was in San Brandon.

Yeah. And so then I was there for like about 2 years and then the mom kicked me out again and then I didn't see her until she was pregnant.

Got it. So she's been using— Oh, I was 23. She's been using the kids as a weapon.

Yes.

Yeah. Okay. Do you know anything about the alleged father who went to jail?

That dude was a chiller.

Short?

Come on, look at this.

Look at this.

Come on. That dude about this tall to her. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I dare y'all.

What do other family members say about this?

I'm the dad.

Everybody say that.

Hell, I'm the dad they don't like. We don't even know that guy.

Yeah. Well, it looks like we got a ping. It's from Tiana's grandmother. Edna?

Yes.

OK. Hi, I'm Tiana's grandmother. I raised her from 2 to 27. I hope Larry is Tiana's father because they love each other, you know, they talk to each other all the time. So I'm thinking he is. They, they look alike, sort of. And, uh, she looks like her brother. Her brother's Larry's son. I hope he is Tiana's father because she's been waiting for this for a long, long time.

I am her father.

I heard you this entire time saying, "I am her father, I am her father." So this would mean the world to you for these results to come back this way?

Yes, it will.

I hear that.

It wouldn't make no difference 'cause I'm still the father.

So I gotta ask you, but why haven't y'all DNA tested before then?

We didn't even think about it.

Cheryl didn't.

I know I didn't. I still don't think about it.

Mm-mm. Yeah. So this was for you?

Yes.

'Cause you just wanted clarity?

Yes.

Got it, got it. Well, I think there's no better time than now to answer the questions you've been having. It's time to reveal the DNA truth. [APPLAUSE] In this envelope is the DNA truth that you have been waiting for. I always tell people, this is not my truth to open, this is yours. So here you go. What do you feel in this moment?

I'm feeling anxious, excited.

Scared.

And some very scared.

Yeah, it makes sense.

It don't make no difference. Still gonna be my baby girl. You can do it.

What's it say?

That Larry is not my father. Oh.

Come on, baby, it's all good. I am your dad. I don't care about that. Pink. Pink.

That hurts.

It's okay. Don't worry about it. I've been your dad forever, haven't I?

Yes.

So why you gonna worry about this, huh? I'm the only dad you know. And I'm gonna stay the only dad, no matter what, okay?

Mm-hmm.

I love you, Pink. Don't worry about this. This is nothing.

I love you too.

I'm so sorry. I know those are not the results. I'm so sorry. That just broke my heart. For you. But you know, as Larry said, he might not be your biological father, but he's always been your father. But I also understand that doesn't take away a young woman's desire to have clarity. And I know that this moment is hard because yes, you have someone who loves you and supports you and he's gonna be there. He is a great dad. That tie, what he has on his tie, number one dad, you are that. And, but I also understand that if you need answers, I want to avail myself and my team to help you to get those answers. Because I do understand as a young woman, your own words were, "I need to close up this piece in my heart." And I think there's a big piece that is missing here, which is your mother. I think it's time for her to give you some answers. When you talk to her, what does she always say?

"None of your business." Don't talk about it. I don't want you to talk about it.

Leave it alone.

Yeah, I like that. Yeah.

We cut off when it's fun.

Yeah. Yeah.

I have to do that.

The problem is that, you know, she might be protecting her feelings from something that in her past that she doesn't wanna deal with. But by doing that, she's inadvertently hurting you. And I'm saying this 'cause I hope she watches this and understands that by not giving the information to your daughter, you're inadvertently hurting her and complicating her life. And as parents, that's not fair.

Yeah.

But also you have a great father here.

Thank you.

That loves you. We will knock you over. Is there anything you wanna say to your daughter?

I love you. And if we wanna go find this cat out there in Oakland, we go find him.

All right.

We only inside. Amen. He ain't gonna hide from me.

Sure ain't.

Best of luck. Sorry about that. All right, everyone, thanks for being with us. Make sure to come back next time, friends, so we can keep talking and growing.

I love you all.