Keke Palmer Accused a Former Co-Star of Racist Remarks & the Internet Is Pointing Fingers

When it comes to child stars who have made it big in the industry, Keke Palmer is a prime example. From her beginnings in 2006’s Akeelah and the Bee to her shining role in 2022’s Nope, Palmer has become quite a force in the industry. But, behind all that success, she’s had to face some unfortunate bumps along the road too.

In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, Palmer looked back at a specific instance with a co-star in Scream Queens, a Ryan Murphy show that ran for two seasons from 2015 to 2016.

According to Palmer, the co-star made racist remarks towards her after she tried to diffuse a “clash” between the co-star and their “colleague.”

“Keke, literally, just don’t,” the co-star, who was referred to by the pseudonym “Brenda,” told Palmer. “Who do you think you are? Martin f— Luther King?”

In the interview, Palmer refused to name the co-stars by name, saying that revealing her identity would “take the power out of [Brenda’s] words.”

“It was such a weighted thing that she said, but I didn’t allow that weight to be projected on me, because I know who I am,” Palmer continued. “I’m not no victim. That’s not my storyline, sweetie. I don’t care what her a– said. If I allow what she said to cripple me, then she would.”

Alongside Palmer, Scream Queens starred a line-up of Hollywood rising stars like Billie Lourd, Abigail Breslin, Emma Roberts and Lea Michele.

On the internet, users are already pointing fingers at who it could be. “Emma Roberts or Lea Michele are the most likely suspects given their past,” wrote one user on X. “Also, not that social media follows mean anything, but Keke follows almost all of her Scream Queens co-stars on Instagram *except* for Lea Michele.” “Everyone is saying Lea Michele but this is kinda Emma Roberts coded 😂,” another user added.

As for Roberts and Michele’s reported history with their co-stars, Roberts was accused of transphobia by American Horror Story co-star Angelica Ross, who is transgender, in September 2023. According to the actress, Roberts once corrected their director who referred to the two of them as women, Variety reported. “OK, ladies, you know, that’s enough. Let’s get back to work,” the director told Ross and Roberts. “Don’t you mean lady?” Roberts then allegedly responded.

Later on, the transphobia allegedly continued when Roberts copied Ross’ voice. “Emma then copies my voice & laugh and drops it several octaves,” Ross remembered. “I was SHOOK. She read me for blood with my own words of course I was self-conscious about my voice on set after that.”

Shortly after, Roberts reached out to Ross to apologize. “Thank you @RobertsEmma for calling and apologizing, recognizing your behavior was not that of an ally,” Ross wrote in an update on social media. “I will leave the line open to follow up on your desire to do better and support social justice causes with your platform.”

As for Michele, the actress was accused of mistreatment by Glee actress Samantha Ware.

“Remember when you made my first television gig a living hell?!?! Cause I’ll never forget,” Ware tweeted to Michele in 2020. “I believe you told everyone that if you had the opportunity you would ‘s— in my wig!’ amongst other traumatic microaggressions that made me question a career in Hollywood.”

“I knew from day one when I attempted to introduce myself,” Weave told Variety of Michele’s behavior towards her. “There was nothing gradual about it. As soon as she decided that she didn’t like me, it was very evident.”

“It was after I did my first performance, that’s when it started – the silent treatment, the stare-downs, the looks, the comments under her breath, the weird passive aggressiveness,” she remembered. “It all built up.”

While the jury’s still out on who made those comments to Palmer, it’s safe to say Roberts and Michele’s past wouldn’t leave us too surprised.

Before you go, click here to see celebrity co-stars who allegedly hated each other in real life.