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"Walking away is the only way."
Keke Palmer has a lot on her plate, between juggling a flourishing career, taking care of her one-year-old son, her upcoming movie co-starring SZA, and more. However, her personal life was put on display due to a public back-and-forth between her and ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson last year, as they went through a break up and custody battle over their son, Leodis. Now, the actress is breaking her silence on everything that went down.
In a new cover story with PEOPLE, Palmer shared details about her “unhealthy” relationship, motherhood, and her new memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.
“It was like, not only is this the person, but this is the time. It felt very spiritual for Darius and I,” she described about the time period leading up to the birth of Leo. “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.”
However, she revealed that “there was a lot going on” behind the scenes, even before Jackson’s infamous “It’s the outfit tho… you a mom” X post about Palmer’s Usher concert outfit that sparked controversy. Palmer wrote that the relationship had already grown “unhappy and unhealthy” by that time.
In November 2023, Keke was granted temporary restraining order against Darius, citing multiple allegations of domestic violence. “It got so out of control,” she said. “The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court.” Video footage captured Jackson breaking into her home and attempting to strangle her. She described the time period as “the hardest thing I ever had to go through.”
Nearly a year later, the two settled amicably on a joint custody agreement after court-ordered mediation. The Nope star also reflected on the relationship, landing on how it wasn’t all bad, and she wants her child to have an accurate view of his father.
“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,” she said. Palmer also added that she’s “so proud of him and happy for [Jackson],” who recently entered the military. “I feel very at ease now knowing things are under control.”
The Brotherly Love star also provided some potent advice for anyone who may be dealing with a similar situation: “Walking away is the only way.”
Keke Palmer’s Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative memoir arrives on Nov. 19, and preorders are available here.
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