The arrival of a baby is always a cause for celebration, especially when it’s time to meet them face to face after months of anticipation.
Babies often surprise us with their unique features, from a head full of hair to adorable dimples. But perhaps the most surprising twist occurs when a baby looks nothing like their parents.
This was the case for one family whose story has gone viral, sparking curiosity and speculation online. Keep reading to find out how it all went down…
Rachel, a cashier at Celina 52 Truck Stop in Tennessee, welcomed her son, Cash Jamal Buckman, into the world on February 17, 2024.
However, what caught people’s attention was the fact that Rachel and her fiancé, Paul Buckman, are both white, while Cash appears to be Black.
The truck stop shared a photo of the happy family on Facebook, congratulating Rachel on her new arrival.
“Congratulations to our cashier Rachel and her fiancé Paul Buckman on their baby Cash Jamal Buckman being [born] on Saturday at 6:18pm,” the post read.
However, instead of receiving well-wishes, the post garnered comments questioning Cash’s paternity, with some suggesting that Paul might not be the biological father.
In response to the speculation, Celina 52 Truck Stop edited their post, adding: “Yes, Paul is the father. Rachel has African American DNA in her which can skip generations and cause a child to be born with darker skin.”
They also mentioned the possibility of Cash having jaundice, a common condition in newborns, and concluded the post with: “Please be kind.”
Despite the truck stop’s explanation, doubts and jokes continued to circulate online.
One person wrote: “Congratulations!!! I AM sure he looks just like his dad. Where is he?”
Another added: “Definitely needs a DNA test; what if they accidentally mixed up the kiddos in the nursery?”
At the same time, some people expressed sympathy for Paul, with a further user commenting: “I feel sorry for Paul, being duped like this is a whole new level of creep. Hopefully he’ll wise up.”
Rachel then decided to take matters into her own hands, sharing her alleged DNA results on Facebook to prove her ancestry.
“For the haters saying that I [don’t] have black DNA maybe this will clear it up straight from my ancestry DNA results !!!! NOW STOP slandering mine and my [fiancé] Paul Buckman name. he IS the father of Lil Cash,” she wrote.
However, the jokes persisted, with many poking fun at the situation and questioning the validity of the test results.
“That’s the strongest 1% I’ve ever seen … this looks like a job for Maury,” someone commented.
Another user with similar DNA chimed in with: “I have that too … and both my babies still look Irish as a boiled potato.”
The story quickly gained traction on social media, with thousands sharing their opinions and reactions. TikTokers also joined the conversation, adding their own humorous takes on the situation.
As speculation continued to swirl, Celina 52 Truck Stop announced that they would be conducting polygraph and DNA tests on their employees. The news only added fuel to the fire, leaving many eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigation.
Then, on March 24, the Celina 52 Truck Stop took to Facebook with what they called their “FINAL STATEMENT REGARDING CASH JAMAL BUCKMAN PATERNITY.”
The post was direct and definitive — an attempt to put the swirling rumors and speculation to rest once and for all. According to Rachel’s workplace, the DNA results from the Steve Wilkos show confirmed that Paul Buckman is not Cash Jamal’s biological father.https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCelinaTruckStop%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02pz7brjTzZCXJmVTiCSbjSRXc1espt1cATfkfPu9wZbxW6mbD8hvqxgJdL3t87hQ3l&show_text=false&width=500
Rachel maintains that she was faithful to Paul and claims that Cash was conceived with her ex-boyfriend in 2021. She believes his DNA remained dormant until 2023, when she contracted Covid, which caused the DNA to activate and result in her pregnancy.
Despite the revelation, Paul has decided to stay with Rachel and raise Cash as his own, believing that the news will only strengthen their bond.
On February 27, 2024, Rachel resigned from her cashier position at the Truck Stop, receiving $100 in severance pay.
Celina 52 Truck Stop ended the press release by saying, “As Maury Povich would say, ‘Paul, you are NOT the father, but you ARE the dad.’”
