In this episode of Karamo, host Karamo mediates a heated confrontation between Ariel, her best friend London, and Ariel’s boyfriend Money (Monie). Ariel alleges that London has been texting and possibly cheating with Money, presenting raunchy text messages as evidence. The conflict stems from a ten‑year friendship that has been broken for a year, compounded by Ariel’s suspicion that Money is a womanizer and often disappears for days. Ariel recounts how she discovered the messages by going through Money’s phone, and how London ghosted her when confronted. London denies wrongdoing, expressing heartbreak and claiming she was merely communicating about practical matters (e.g., picking up Ariel’s daughter). Money admits to texting London but says he never pursued a romantic relationship and frames his bond with Ariel as an open, undefined arrangement. The discussion also reveals Ariel’s role as a single mother to a daughter named Tyla, who has not seen London in a year and misses her. Karamo pushes each participant for clarity, calling out potential gaslighting by Money and urging honesty. By the episode’s end, Ariel decides to end the relationship with Money, expresses a desire to reconcile with London, and Karamo proposes a spa day for the two women to rebuild their friendship. The episode blends personal testimony, emotional outbursts, and mediated attempts at resolution, highlighting themes of trust, betrayal, communication breakdown, and the impact of adult conflicts on children.
Chapters
So you gotta tell me, girl, why do you think your best friend was cheating with your man?
So I really been going through it. You know, a woman's intuition is everything, and I just been having this hunch. So it all started, I went through his phone and I saw some messages between the two. So that really had me in an uproar because the messages were kind of raunchy. They're flirting with each other. They're complimenting each other. They were talking on the phone.
Oh.
He's like, call me. So they're on the phone. She's like, call me. He's like, she's around.
Oh.
So I'm just wondering, like, you know, what are you two talking about that I can't be around for?
Yeah, for?
You know, like—
So take me back. When did you and London first become friends? Friends, and how long has the friendship, how long was the friendship?
So we've been friends for about 10 years now. Oh, wow. We met my freshman year in high school and we just kind of clicked up like the first day of high school. Like we were two peas in a pod and we've been together ever since then until this situation. And we haven't talked in about a year now.
Wow. So this really broke a long-term friendship. This is not no, y'all were like sisters basically.
Yes, that is my sister. We were like sisters.
So you told my producers that London had cheated with someone else's man in the past. Explain. Yes, ma'am.
So she was friends with somebody in the past, also someone that went to high school with us. And she was kind of boasting like, you know, I took her man, I was dealing with her man. And you know, it was funny then. It was like, oh, you know, hee hee, ha ha. But like now that we're in the situation we're in now, it's like I reflected back on that. I'm like, you know, you did this before. Would you do this to me? To our 10-year friendship? So I just want answers today. I really do.
So I gotta back up a little bit as well 'cause you said that you caught them because you went through Money's phone. So did you suspect that Money was cheating as well? Is that why you went through his phone?
Yes, Money is a womanizer. I caught him doing all type of things. Like he will go days without talking to me, just will disappear. I'm calling his phone, I'm reaching out through social media. I even called his mom looking for him. Like nobody even knows where he's at. He just disappears. And then a day will come up and he'll text me good morning.
Really? Yeah. So he'll just disappear out the blue?
Yeah, for days at a time and then just will text good morning.
Oh my gosh. So how did you meet Money? Can you please describe y'all relationship after hearing that?
Definitely. So Money has always, he's been a friend of the family. He's actually my brother's best friend.
Friend.
We've been talking for about a year now, solid. And it's just been like nonstop drama the whole year. It's all about this girl.
So you and Money Only been together for 1 year?
1 year.
So, and you and your best friend have not been talking for years. So this happened between them at the very beginning of their relationship?
At the very beginning.
Got it. Did you confront them with these text messages? I did. And what did they say?
So when I confronted London about it, she just kind of like ghosted me. I confronted her and then like she didn't give me any type of explanation. She didn't go into details. She just literally, I sent the text message. I believe I told her I sent the text messages and she just was like, you can believe what you wanna believe. And we didn't talk for a whole year.
And so lemme just be clear, 10 years of a friendship, 1 year of this, you chose your man over your best friend?
Yeah.
Because you said it, this all happened in the very beginning of the relationship. So instead of dumping him, you dumped her.
And it's not that I dumped her, it's just the fact that I reached out to her and she didn't give me any type of explanation. She didn't clarify anything, so I kind of—
Did London ever tell you anything happened?
No.
Okay, so she said nothing happened.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't say anything, okay.
She didn't say nothing happened, she didn't say anything did happen, she just ghosted me. Yeah, got it. So when she did that, it just kind of made me feel like, you know, you're guilty.
Yeah.
And it broke me to pieces. You know, I was depressed for a while after that. It really hurt me to the core.
Yeah. You have a little girl, right?
Yes.
And London was involved in her life, right?
Yes.
And has London seen your daughter since?
No. And my daughter still asks for her to this very day.
Yeah. I'm sorry about that. 'Cause kids don't ever understand why somebody they love is missing. So I can only imagine. So what are you hoping from London today?
I am wanting an explanation. I just wanna know what happened. Yeah. Like, that's it. Like, why were you guys texting? How did you guys start texting? Like, you know, did you guys do anything sexually? Like, I just wanna know the truth.
Yeah, okay. Well everyone, let's meet London to hear her side of this story. So everyone, please welcome London to the show. Hi, London.
Hello.
Nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
You look very cute.
Thank you, you too.
You're welcome. So please tell me, what did you feel when Ariel accused you of cheating with Monie?
I just feel like, I feel very heartbroken. Like it kind of broke me.
Are you somebody who likes confrontation?
No.
I can tell from your personality.
Yeah.
Are you always like this? Like you're more like shy and reserved? Okay. Do you think Ariel was unfair in how she handled the situation?
Yeah, it's like how she came at me is like she never really like really asked. She just like blamed me for doing it.
But why would you shut down like that?
Like Ariel, you know how I am. And it's making me emotional because we have not talked.
I've not seen your daughter and this is just for you to bring me on this show? We could have settled this at home. You brought me thousands of miles away about a man that don't even care about you. Please don't cry. Please don't do that. Please don't.
Why are you laughing at her, Karamo?
I'm not laughing, no. I didn't expect for her to cry, I'm sorry. I'm not laughing at you, it's not funny. You know how I am in serious situations. But seriously, I just wanted explanation from you. I just wanted you to be real with me. We lost a year of time. Tyla is asking about you, you miss so much. She just started kindergarten. Like, you missed everything. She's still asking about you to this very day. All I wanted was an explanation. I saw the text messages and I was hurt. It hurt me to the core. And I just wanted you to be real with me and tell me what was up. But you shut down.
I told you nothing. And you just went from there and just went crazy. Oh, it's something because why is y'all texting? For one, you know we have to communicate to get her off the bus. That was for one. But when he was even texting me, I never acknowledged anything, and you seen the messages. I wasn't responding.
But why did you not tell me that he was even texting you or doing any of that? I would've cut him off from the beginning. This wouldn't even made it like this. I would've just got rid of him from the jump.
But you know your last situation, and you know I was looking out for your happiness. All you wanted was just a complete family. And you was just so happy with him, I just, I didn't wanna tell you about nothing wrong. 'Cause you see that he didn't do no wrong in your eyes.
That's not true.
And you know he not good for you. You know he probably messing with other females. And if it's me, if he hit on me, you know he'll hit on other friends of yours. He is the problem.
I gotta say something. Is Ariel, is Money good with your daughter?
He helps me. I allow him to help me where I need help sometimes.
That don't sound too confident, girl.
I don't really, I don't really, he seems kind of temporary to me. I don't want my daughter to get really, really attached. He's not giving me what I want. He's not giving me commitment. I don't see marriage in the future. I don't see anything like that with him.
So I'm gonna ask you again. So you chose a temporary man over your friend?
I gotta clap for that.
OK. That's asking. I think it's time that we all meet the man in the middle of this, is Money. So let's hear what Money has to say about all this. Please welcome Money to the show. He's joining us remotely from his home. Hey, Money, nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too. How you doing?
Good, thank you. So what is your history with Ariel?
We got a pretty good history. I'm a friend of the family. I knew her brother for a minute. Really long time male brothers, good friends.
How would you label your relationship with Ariel? Would you call her your friend or your girlfriend?
We never established the girlfriend part.
But we've been together for a year. We've been talking for a year. You don't think that gives me the girlfriend title?
No, 'cause we never talked about that. I mean, we did, but it wasn't like we really established a title between us.
Okay, so you feel as though that you're just a single man.
I mean, you knew when we came into this situation, like it was an open relationship. Like you do you, I do me, you know what I'm saying? I don't worry about what you doing, but you more worried about what I'm doing. So like you already knew, you know what I'm saying, the situation between me and you.
Okay, so this is crazy 'cause this is news to me. I never knew we were in an open relationship. I've only been dealing with you.
And this is who you chose over me. Somebody that ain't even claiming you.
So you admit, so I understand that you admit to texting London, but denied cheating. Were you texting with her?
Yeah. Okay. Made it look like we did text.
Were you trying to get with her?
When I did try, it was shut down immediately.
He said that he tried to get with you and you shut it down immediately.
He wasn't gonna shut it down immediately.
Okay, but out of all the females in the city, why my best friend that I'm with every day?
I'm saying it because it came time to where she, you know, I'm picking up your daughter. I can't get in contact with you about a lot of things. I can't talk to you about a lot of things. I can't confide in you. Because you busy at work, you got what you going on. This your best friend, she like, "What's up? What's wrong with you, Monie?" Like, I confided to London, I'm talking to London.
Because I'm at work working doubles, trying to take care of my child as a single mother, and I ask you what's on your mind all the time, I pick at your brain all the time. So you felt that it was okay because she asked you how you were doing, you felt it was okay to talk to my sister? Not even a friend, because this is my sister, you know how we are, my ride or die, that was okay?
I did. I felt like it was okay because she was open to, like, when I came to you about a lot of things, you wasn't there. And then like, when it comes down to me dropping baby off, like, there's no way.
But you do know you're trying to gaslight her right now and make her feel like it's her fault for your actions. You do know that's what you're doing. And I hope anybody at home watching this, if a man, Does something bad and then tries to tell you it's because you weren't there for me. He's trying to gaslight you. So I mean, just let's call it what it is so everybody knows what it was.
Yes, absolutely.
Okay, so where do you see now that we hear this, where do you see this relationship going with Ariel in the future?
It really take that long to think about it and I'm in love with you?
I mean, I don't know.
So I think that we're just looking for two different things right now. So I think that I just need to just, I need to just move forward and focus on me and my daughter.
So are you saying, so hold on because I like, I think sometimes when we say things, it need to be clearer. So are you saying that you are going to choose your best friend now and dump Money?
I mean, I think that's the route I need to go. I just gotta say bye Money, it's cool.
Everybody with me? Bye Money. That money. All right, we can cut his feed. We can cut that feed. I was waiting for you to say that, girl, because I caught that a mile away. And what you gotta say to your best friend now?
I don't even wanna hear it.
I hate that we lost a year of time. I don't wanna hear it. We lost a year of time and I think we just need to make that up.
How?
We need to make up the year of time that we lost. My daughter miss you. You know, I hate that we even had to go through this. A year is a long time. You know how much stuff has changed?
You know what? Don't tell her how much her daughter miss her. Tell her how much you miss her.
And I do miss you, I really do. I don't have no friends. Me either. I don't have nothing to do. I've been at work working doubles and triples.
I don't leave the house, you know, I'm shy, I don't go nowhere. You are the turn up, you are my angel and the devil.
You know, I will take the fact that I was wrong. And I was wrong though, I was wrong. I should have came to you better, calmer, 'cause I was upset at the time. I should have came to you face to face, one on one, and sit down like women and talk, for real.
[Speaker:KARAMO] There you go. You feel good that you got your friend back and that she gave you an apology? I can tell, I see it in your face. I know there's love here and I know she is giving you right advice. Part of you picking these men that are not valuing the woman you are is what is affecting, is gonna affect all your relationships. You have the love around you, you have the support around you. And if you ever have a man that comes in your life that tries to break that and not add to that, that he gotta go. And that's just the truth of it.
Yep, yep. I'm just ready to move forward. You know, I'm a single woman. I have potential. I know what I have going on.
And I got another question for you. Do Money actually got money? 'Cause I can't stand somebody calling himself Money who ain't got no money. He got a—
Man. Ah, Money ain't got no money.
Money ain't got no money? I got a coin. So what I'm gonna do for this friendship is because I heard you say we used to go to nail shops, I'm gonna go ahead and send y'all back to the nail shop, let y'all have a little spa day, hook y'all up. This work?
Okay, yay.
Just so y'all can reconnect, like a little cute little day out. Y'all like that?
I like that.
All right, cool. Y'all gonna be all right, all right? You got family right here, all right?
