Newborn’s Appearance Sparks Viral Controversy. When Rachel, a cashier at the Celina 52 Truck Stop in Tennessee, gave birth to her son Cash Jamal Buckman on February 17, what should have been a joyful moment turned into an internet sensation. Rachel and her fiancé, Paul Buckman, are both white—but their baby appears to be Black, prompting online speculation and jokes about the baby’s paternity.
The truck stop’s congratulatory Facebook post was quickly flooded with comments questioning whether Paul was the real father. In response, the company stated that Rachel has African American DNA, which can skip generations, and suggested the baby’s darker skin could also be due to jaundice. They asked the public to “please be kind.”
Still, online rumors continued. Some commenters suggested a DNA test or accused Rachel of cheating. To defend herself, Rachel posted what she claimed were her ancestry DNA results, showing some African ancestry. She insisted Paul is the father and demanded people stop slandering their names.
Despite her post, jokes and doubts kept spreading across Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms. The situation gained even more attention when the truck stop announced plans to conduct polygraph and DNA tests on employees, sparking further backlash.
What began as a simple birth announcement quickly turned into a viral story full of drama, speculation, and public debate—one that’s still unfolding.