Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in February 2024.
Rachel, a cashier at Celina 52 Truck Stop in Tennessee, gave birth to her son, Cash Jamal Buckman. What surprised many was that both Rachel and her fiancé, Paul Buckman, are white, while baby Cash appears to be Black.
The truck stop celebrated the news on Facebook, sharing a family photo and congratulating the couple. “Congratulations to our cashier Rachel and her fiancé Paul Buckman on their baby Cash Jamal Buckman being born,” the post read.
However, instead of receiving congratulations, the post was flooded with comments questioning Cash’s paternity, with some insinuating that Paul might not be the biological father.
To address these rumors, Celina 52 Truck Stop updated their post, stating, “Yes, Paul is the father. Rachel has African American DNA in her which can hop generations and cause a child to be born with darker skin.” They also noted that Cash might have jaundice, a common newborn condition, and urged readers to “Please be kind.”
Despite the explanation, skepticism and jokes continued to circulate online. One commenter wrote, “Congratulations!!! I AM sure he looks just like his dad. Where is he?” Another said, “Definitely needs a DNA test; what if they accidentally mixed up the kiddos in the nursery?”
Sympathy for Paul also emerged, with one user commenting, “I feel sorry for Paul, being duped like this is a whole new level of creep. Hopefully he’ll wise up.”
Determined to clear their names, Rachel posted her DNA results on Facebook to prove her ancestry. “For the haters saying that I don’t have black DNA, maybe this will explain it up straight from my ancestry DNA results!!!! NOW STOP slandering mine and my fiancé Paul Buckman’s name. He IS the father of Lil Cash,” she wrote.
However, jokes and doubts persisted. One commenter quipped, “That’s the strongest 1% I’ve ever seen … this looks like a job for Maury.” Another added, “I have that too … and both my babies still look Irish as a boiled potato.”
The story quickly went viral, with thousands sharing their opinions and reactions. TikTok users added their own humorous takes, further fueling the online frenzy.
As the speculation grew, Celina 52 Truck Stop announced plans to conduct polygraph and DNA tests on their employees, a move that only intensified public interest. This development left many eagerly anticipating the results of the investigation.
While the full truth behind baby Cash’s appearance remains a mystery, this surprising twist has turned a simple birth announcement into a viral sensation, captivating audiences and sparking a heated online debate.