Celebrity News
We don’t play about Miss Keke Palmer. We learned that more than ever over the past few years as we rallied around the former child star as she gave birth to her first child and experienced some trauma with her now ex.
For us, Keke Palmer has been a beloved figure in our lives ever since her breakout role in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee. Her natural talent and captivating personality instantly drew us in, making us feel like she was a part of our extended family.
However, the familiarity and comfort that we've come to associate with Palmer over the years can sometimes create a false sense of intimacy. It's easy to forget that, despite the illusion of closeness we've cultivated through the media, Palmer remains a celebrity, and there are certain boundaries that tend to be blurred.
In a candid interview with PEOPLE magazine, the singer delved into her personal life, discussing her experiences with fame, family dynamics, and the true nature of her relationship with her son's father, Darius Jackson.
Palmer told People, “That’s always been the thing with me: I’m in a mature scenario, having these older experiences in the workplace and with my sense of purpose but then again, I’m just a regular 31-year-old with all of my immaturities."
And that’s never more apparent than when she started dating. When Keke was first linked to Jackson, we couldn’t have been happier for her. In August 2021, the personal trainer shared on Instagram, “You’ve been a blessing from above. Never would have expected summer 2021 to turn out the way it did, but here we are. I’m glad we were able to help each other throughout our lowest of times & show one another that what we are bringing to the table is everything that we got.”
In December 2022, the couple shared the exciting news of their first child's imminent arrival. A few months later, in February 2023, they welcomed their son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, into the world.
However, a few months later, the couple's seemingly blissful relationship experienced a tumultuous turn. Jackson's infamous social media post, "It's the outfit tho.. you a mom," went viral and sparked controversy, criticizing a dress the award-winning actress wore to Usher's Las Vegas residency. Subsequently, allegations of domestic violence surfaced, and a custody battle ensued.
"It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through," she penned in her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, out Nov. 19. After smoothing things over with her ex and getting to a good place, she's ready to take some time to think about herself and what she wants.
In that reflection, Palmer said it felt “very spiritual” for the pair in the beginning. She said, “We had separate lonelinesses, and we created a space for us to exist in that loneliness together. And then we wanted to have a son. Leo was very planned.”
The Scream Queens alum was also transparent that social media is very much a highlight reel as she and Jackson seemed great online, but things were already “unhappy and unhealthy” even before the Usher of it all. The relationship had escalated to violence. In November, a court granted her a temporary restraining order due to several domestic violence allegations.
One incident, caught on video, involved Jackson breaking into her house and attempting to strangle her. During their custody dispute over Leo, he retaliated in court with counter-allegations and claimed she had also been abusive towards him.
“It got so out of control. The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court,” Palmer said. Like many couples, having a baby was a big stressor, along with the fame of it all. “Too many voices get in. It can make everybody else not trust you. It’s hard to explain.”
After six months of court-ordered mediation, Palmer and Jackson amicably reached a joint custody agreement. The actress emphasized that it wasn’t terrible the entire time with her baby’s father because it wasn’t that black-and-white, and that was the challenge. More than anything, she didn’t want her son to think his father was a monster, because she didn’t believe that to be true.
When sharing her advice to anyone dealing with a similar situation: “Walking away is the only way.” Forgiveness and peace are at the forefront of her healing journey, and it seems she wishes Jackson nothing but the best.
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Feature image by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
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