"It Got So Out Of Control": Keke Palmer Opened Up About Where She Stands With Darius Jackson After Abuse Allegations

This post mentions allegations of abuse.

Keke Palmer is reflecting on her "unhealthy" relationship with Darius Jackson, the father of her first and only child, and the abuse allegations that followed.

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Keke and Darius began dating in June 2021 after meeting at a Memorial Day party hosted by Issa Rae to celebrate Insecure. For those who don't know, Keke made a brief appearance on the show, while Darius's older brother Sarunas J. Jackson co-starred on the hit HBO series. They went Instagram-official in August 2021.

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Keke and Darius welcomed a baby boy named Leodis Andrellton Jackson, who she affectionately calls Leo, on February 25, 2023. And he's been making appearances with her on her social media pages and the red carpet ever since.

Their relationship took a turn in July 2023 when Keke attended Usher's Past Present Future tour, where she was seen enjoying herself with friends and later dancing with the singer himself — a bit that he does at all of his shows, typically with female celebrity attendees. Darius publicly shamed her on Twitter for the outfit she wore, mainly disapproving of it because she's a mother now.

His comments garnered tons of backlash online and their relationship seemed to implode because of it. With various on-again, off-again stints to Keke filing a restraining order against Darius and seeking legal custody of their son after accusing him of physical and emotional abuse.

“It is because of our son, Leo, that I was finally able to end my relationship with Darius once and for all and escape the abuse,” Keke purportedly writes in the paperwork. “Leo is the most important thing in the entire world to me; he needs and deserves to be safe and grow up in an environment free from violence."

Now, Keke is giving fans an update on where she stands with Darius after their relationship reportedly ended in October 2023. Through exclusive excerpts from her new book Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative acquired by People, Keke spoke candidly about it being the "hardest thing I ever had to go through," and finally being on good terms with Darius.

“It was like, not only is this the person, but this is the time. It felt very spiritual for Darius and I,” Keke said as she reflected on their decision to have a baby. “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 Nope star went on to reveal that their relationship had grown to be "unhappy and unhealthy" way before drama happened on X (formerly known as Twitter). Eventually, after going public with the alleged abuse she'd been enduring, the only way Keke thought she could move forward was by taking legal action.

“It got so out of control. The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court." As for what initially went wrong between them, “having a baby was a big stressor,” she said, as was fame.

Six months after court-ordered mediation, Keke and Darius agreed on joint custody. Looking back, Keke revealed, "I wish I could say he was terrible the entire time or that I was...but it wasn’t that black-and-white and that was the problem. I didn’t want my son to think his father is a monster, because I don’t."

“I’m so proud of him and happy for him,” she added of Darius, who recently entered the military. “I feel very at ease now knowing things are under control.”

Despite finding common ground with Darius, the Password host urged that anyone dealing with a similar situation that "walking away is the only way.”

If you want to learn more about Keke, be sure to check out her new memoir when it hits stores Nov. 19.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.