We’ve Never Met, But He Might Be My Dad! | KARAMO

Tell me a little bit about how you grew up.

It wasn't the typical upbringing. I was adopted.

Okay.

And she did the best she could. I had my twin brother raised with me and—

Oh, you have a twin?

Yes.

Okay.

I have a twin brother and he basically was just, he was more understanding of my adoptive mother than I was. I felt like I didn't belong.

Got it.

So around age 12, she was able to sit down and tell me that y'all adopted.

Mm-hmm.

Basically just.

Yes, I tell you. Is that, what did your mom, adopted mom tell your therapist?

She basically told them that she birthed me.

Oh really?

She was like, oh, she was a perfectly healthy baby girl. I birthed her and there's nothing wrong with her.

Wow.

Yeah.

And then at 12 she finally said, let me be honest. Yeah. What compelled her to be honest?

My behavior.

Mm.

I wasn't beat for it.

Got it.

Like, I felt like I was—

Because in your soul, you knew something was off. Yes, yes. Mm. Tell me about your search for your biological parents.

From the moment I found out I was adopted, I was on a mission.

12 years old? Yes.

I started acting out. I was just trying to figure out where, like, just answers. And at, I'll say a couple years ago, in 2014, I was able to like find out more information 'cause they released a law in the state that adoptees can get information on their birth parents. But life started lifin' and I lost track of it. But I did a 23andMe and I found a half sister.

[Speaker:KARAMO] Wow. Wow. Well, I think what's interesting about this is that this is not just for you. You have a twin brother, 'cause these answers will be for him as well. Yes. How were you able to find your potential father? You said it's because of that DNA.

Yes.

And what was your first conversation with Jonathan, your potential father, like?

It was more so of, he really didn't know that he possibly could be my father. It was more so he knew of us because everybody in the neighborhood that he, I guess, chilled in in that area was just like, oh yeah, she had twins. And he was under the impression that they weren't his.

Got it, got it, got it. Have you gotten a chance to connect with your potential mother?

Oh yeah.

You have? Mm-hmm. So you've met your potential mother as well. What was that like?

It was magical.

Mm-hmm.

Just an instant connection where it was like, I saw a picture of her and I'm just like, yeah, that's my mama. That's my mama.

And what did your mother tell you about Jonathan?

That's not your father.

Oh, so your mother, biological mother, told you that Jonathan is not your father?

Yeah.

Okay.

And she's just like, oh, I know who your father is. And in my head, 1 1 is 2. To, if a DNA test say that's my half-sibling and he only got one child and I'm that sibling, then.

Then that's what it is. Yeah. But I understand now the doubt and why you're here. Because if your mother is saying that's not him, you're confused of what's going on. Yeah. Have you ever met your potential father in person? No. Never? So have you ever talked to him?

We spoke during these last two weeks, just, hey, Like I would text him good morning and he's like, "Oh, you nervous?" And I'm like, "Yeah." [Speaker:KARAMO] So only in the past 2 weeks have you had any communication? [Speaker:AMARA] Mm-hmm.

[Speaker:KARAMO] And today will be the first time you actually lay eyes on him. [Speaker:AMARA] Yes. [Speaker:KARAMO] And meet him in person. [Speaker:AMARA] Yes. [Speaker:KARAMO] Well, I think it's time to hear from Amara's potential father who she's never met. So everyone please welcome Jonathan to the show. How you doing, Jonathan?

All right.

Hey.

Hey. All right.

What is this moment like for you?

I don't know.

Yeah, yeah. What is this moment like for you, Jonathan?

This is really big. It's big.

Really big. How do you feel about what was said before you got out here?

Oh, wow. That's a lot, man. Yeah. You know, I mean, How do you feel? You just, you know, it's, you just take it as you take it, you know, take it slow, take it in, you know.

You trying to process?

Yeah, I've been trying to process it for the past 2 weeks. Yeah. You know, because it's just, you know.

Well, 'cause how did you find out about her?

My daughter looked up 23andMe and she looked up and then she's like, you know, I have a half sister. And I'm like, well, that's impossible. That, you know, I don't have any other kids. It's just you guys. And she's like, you know, there was twins. They were born in Hackensack in 1993. So that set up something for me because I was in Hackensack in 1993. Actually, I just left. So I started working in Hackensack In 1994, '95, 'cause I left and I came back and then I commuted back and forth and I worked this one job, but a lot of my life was in Hackensack, so it made sense.

Got it.

It made sense.

How did your daughter that you've been in your life feel when she found out she could potentially have a half sister?

She felt good.

Okay.

She felt good. I mean, it's a good thing.

Have y'all met? No. No. You have never met her either? No. Okay. Wow. So what was your relationship like with Amira's mom? Do you remember?

Oh wow. We was just, it wasn't like a relationship. We was friends. We lived in the same building. So we hung out, drank and partied or whatever. But it wasn't like a romance.

Yeah. And she never said anything to you about— Never.

I came back 'cause she had moved and then she came back And I came back to Jersey and I looked her up and she mentioned the fact that she had put the children up for an adoption. You know, she was explaining and then she was like, this guy was the father and they broke up, you know, because she had twins.

Yeah, how does that make you feel knowing that he didn't know about you? Does it give you some sort of comfort knowing that it wasn't that he just abandoned you, that he didn't know?

No, I feel like if you lay down with somebody and you have a small feeling, even a hint of a feeling that those kids might be yours, I feel like that was your position to at least say something.

Mm. So from what I'm hearing, and correct me if I'm wrong, it sounds as if you didn't have any idea. No. Like even though you had casual relationships.

Yeah, it was just, No, absolutely no idea. Yeah. I mean, not even a small, because like I said, it was like a one-time thing. And I know it only takes one time, but at the end of the day, you know, it was the other dude, he was in a relationship with her and she was like, he's the father.

Got it, got it.

And you know, she's still sitting up there saying, I'm not the father.

Did you raise your other children?

Oh yes, yes, yes. I raised them and my nieces and nephews as well. Okay. So it was 4 on top of 2.

Does it bother you that you were never given the chance to raise America? Yeah, it does.

It does. Because I think I am a damn good father at the end of the day. So I wish I could have gave her more of me and helped raise her right in her life. 'Cause my children, I have awesome children. And I think that's why, I don't, for some reason we do have like a connection. We talk, it was cool. You know what I'm saying?

It's like. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, what does that make you feel like? Because he's saying like he wishes that he could have been there.

I don't really know. It's like, it's mixed emotions. I get it, I get it. 'Cause on one side, I feel like my mother was right by what she had to do. But when two people start doing the do, I feel like you already have like a feeling in your gut if that person gets pregnant. Let me start asking a couple questions to make sure that 100% the person that I'm having a baby with is the father.

Got it. If you're Amira's father, are you interested in building a relationship with her? Of course. Are you interested in building a relationship with him? Yeah. You are? You said yeah. What was that?

Yeah? 'Cause I'm grown.

You're grown. I know, but we could start something. Yeah, I mean—

Well, I'll tell you this, the minute that he walked out here, yes, you're grown, but I say this to all of us, there's a child that lives in all of us and that's normally When I have people who sit in front of me, I see their child in them. And the minute that he sat down, the child in you popped back out. It popped out. And so that means there is a little piece of the little girl in you who still, if this is your father, would like to have some type of relationship, who deserves that.

Well, I feel like I'm protecting that little girl in me right now.

I understand that.

I understand that. She's excited. She's happy. She's like, "Oh, that's my dad." Yeah, but you got—

I'm like, "Girl, pause." Okay, you like, "Girl, pause." I get it. I get it. Well, I think we can take it off pause and find out the DNA truth because it's time. In this envelope is the DNA truth you've been waiting for. These are the answers you needed. This is not my truth to open, it is yours. So here you go. Okay.

I don't even think I was anymore.

It's all right. It's okay. Take your time. Take your time.

It's okay. Poor baby.

It's going to be all right. Breathe. Breathe. There you go. There you go. There you go. Well, look at that.

I did it. What does it say?

He's a funny guy.

Hold on, let me, I didn't know, what did it say?

Yeah, I am.

Oh, you're her biological father, okay. You're her biological father. Oh my gosh. No, no, it's how nurturing he is.

Well, we get to frame this.

How do you feel? This is your dad, here you go. That's your father. That's your father, here you go, sir. Thank you. It is very rare that somebody gets tears down my eyes, but you got tears down my eyes, and I think it's just because of how nurturing you are. How does it make you feel right now this is your father?

I finally found him.

You did. And not only did you find him, but he wants you. Yeah. He loves you already. I can see it and I can feel it. Do you feel it?

Yeah.

Karamo, what is this moment like for you? This is big. Yeah. It's good. It's good? It's beautiful. Yeah.

It's really beautiful. Man. That's so sad.

I don't know why you got me over here crying.

You supposed to play it off and say something in your eyes.

Why didn't you? I don't know why you got me over here crying. Oh man. You started this search at 12 years old and I am so honored. It ended here on this stage. It's beautiful. And that you found each other and I can see and feel the love and it's gonna be good, girl. It's gonna be all right. It's gonna be all right. Trust me.

It's gonna be good. I promise you that.

It is.

It's gonna be really good. It don't feel real.

I know. I know. It's gonna feel real. But listen to his words. You know, he said it's gonna be good and I 100% I 1,000%, 1 million percent believe that. And you deserve it. You deserve it. You deserve it as well. Congratulations to you both. I'm very happy for you. We're all happy for you. Thank you.