In this Karamo episode, Maya presents a heated text she sent to her husband Joshua, saying he should have died on the streets because of his lies. Karamo labels the message abusive and probes Maya on why she said it, uncovering that Joshua repeatedly lied about his background, had a child, and lacked a car, prompting Maya to feel betrayed. The couple married after only eight months, a timeline Karamo questions as insufficient for true knowledge of a partner. Maya recounts a pattern of being kicked out of the house, returning with a U‑Haul, and experiencing physical fights, which she initially tried to downplay. Joshua’s mother, Vanessa, joins the discussion, expressing disappointment at the abusive text but defending the marriage, citing traditional commitment values and hoping the couple works through their issues. The conversation touches on domestic violence, the cycle of eviction and reconciliation, and Karamo’s role in challenging gender expectations and encouraging accountability.
Chapters
You brought us a heated text exchange between you two that you wanted me to see. Okay, "You will fail in everything you do and you should have died on the streets like everyone else. I would've never gave you the time of day if I knew you didn't have a GED because you're an idiot." Is that the stuff you sent to him?
I said that.
Okay, you do understand that's abusive?
I understand, look. I said it though.
Why did you say it?
I said that because he shouldn't have lied to me.
But do you think a lie equates to telling someone they should die?
Look, let me say this.
I'm gonna challenge you as just a woman.
I understand, but I'm just saying the fact that he built this whole relationship on lies, that was enough for me to be angry.
'Cause you feel like you've just been betrayed your entire relationship?
Yes.
Take me back. How did you and Josh meet?
We met at work.
And did you know anything about him before you got married?
Yeah, before we got married, I knew that he had a child. When we first started dating, I knew he didn't have a car, but I told him that that was a problem for me. I don't want to be with you if you don't have a car. So he got that in order. I knew that he went to work and I knew that he stayed with his mom.
So the question is, why did you rush the marriage?
It wasn't a rush for me. I was ready, I was excited, I was grown and happy. That's what I wanted to do.
But 6 months?
No, 8 months.
8 months. That's less than a year. Do you really think you can get to know somebody in that time?
The type of person I am, I know I'm honest and I show up as me. My problem is I expect other people to do the same thing. He didn't do that. He lied about who he was.
Yeah. So Joshua kicked you outta the house a lot. Yeah. Why did you go back?
I just was trying to make it work.
Uh-huh.
That's embarrassing. And he got all this stuff going on. I'm steady getting kicked out. Went back again. But you know what? I keep showing up with the U-Haul truck. Then he like, "Nah, don't leave, don't leave." So why you trying to kick me out then?
So joining us in the audience today is Joshua's mom, Vanessa, who's here right now. Hey Vanessa, how you doing?
Hi, hi, I'm good.
You just heard how he was kicking her out the house. What do you think is going on in this marriage?
Well, first of all, that was very mean to say that you wish that he had to die out on the streets. That was very hurtful to hear that.
Agreed.
But I'm gonna assume that you were mad when you said that, so I'm gonna let that one slide. But I believe that they got married too soon. And they just don't know how to love each other. As a husband and wife, and that's where their problems come in.
For you, what's the most upsetting thing about all this?
Just to see them have these problems so early and so soon. I love her as my daughter-in-law, and I want this to work out with them.
So do you think they should be together?
Yes, I do.
Okay.
I think so.
Now I got a question because you said we got together too soon, so why should we continue to be together if all this stuff is going on?
Because you both said that you all love each other. I do, so I believe that you all should make that work. I think that you all should give it everything that y'all have.
You old school, you believe once you make that commitment, you stick with it.
Yes, yes, yes. Work it out.
So what if he beat me up? What if we fighting on each other? We still supposed to stay together if it's like that?
No, no, no. I'm not for that at all.
Mm-hmm. Have y'all ever gotten physical?
We fought each other before.
You fought each other before? Physically fought each other?
Yeah.
Did you know about that? Did you know they physically fought each other?
I kind of suspected it, but I didn't really know 100%.
So how does it make you feel here?
Tell the truth, Maya, you know.
Just like I said, I suspected it. There was one day they were in the room I walked in and they were pushing and shoving each other. And I stopped it right there. You said that?
Immediately.
That's true.
One of the things that I say is that we teach our boys all the time, don't put your hands on a woman, but I think it's time that we also equally start teaching our girls, don't put your hands on a man.
