Keke Palmer has revealed that her ‘unhealthy’ relationship with her son’s father Darius Jackson was the ‘hardest thing I ever had to go through.’
The 31-year-old actress began dating the fitness instructor in 2021 and they welcomed their son Leodis in February 2023.
Later that year, their relationship dissolved into a bitter custody battle in which they both accused each other of physical abuse.
Palmer submitted images from her home security footage that appeared to show Jackson manhandling her and hitting her as she was leaning over a sofa.
Now that they have arrived at an amicable co-parenting arrangement, Palmer has reflected on the way their relationship ‘got so out of control,’ the ‘stressor’ that contributed to their problems and her advice for anyone in her shoes: ‘Walking away is the only way,’ via People magazine.
Keke Palmer has revealed that her ‘unhealthy’ relationship with her son’s father Darius Jackson was the ‘hardest thing I ever had to go through’; pictured 2021
Palmer shared that Jackson is now in the military, saying: ‘I’m so proud of him and happy for him. I feel very at ease now knowing things are under control.’
When she and Jackson first became an item, she felt that ‘not only is this the person, but this is the time. It felt very spiritual for Darius and I.’
She elaborated on why she felt they were compatible, explaining: ‘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, by mid-2023, there ‘was a lot going on’ in the ‘unhappy and unhealthy’ relationship – and their problems soon surfaced in the public eye.
In July, Palmer uploaded a social media post of herself wearing a see-through black dress over a thong bodysuit while dancing with Usher, prompting Jackson to pointedly comment: ‘It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom.’
Jackson was deluged with backlash as Palmer’s fans leapt to her defense, and their relationship ultimately imploded for good in October 2023, triggering a custody battle in which they accused each other of abuse.
‘It got so out of control. The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court,’ Palmer reflected in her new interview.
She noted that ‘having a baby was a big stressor’ and her stardom added another layer of tension to the equation between them.
Palmer made the revelation in a new cover interview with People magazine
The 31-year-old actress began dating the fitness instructor in 2021 and they welcomed their son Leodis in February 2023
Palmer noted that she and Jackson ‘wanted to have a son,’ adding: ‘Leo was very planned’
Now that they have arrived at an amicable co-parenting arrangement, Palmer has reflected on the way their relationship ‘got so out of control’; pictured April 2023
‘Not just with my romantic relationships, but with family and friends, it’s always become a burden. Too many voices get in. It can make everybody else not trust you. It’s hard to explain,’ the former child star shared.
With the legal battle in the rearview and joint custody agreed upon, Palmer reflected: ‘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.’
Palmer made the remarks about her ex while promoting her upcoming book Master Of Me: The Secret To Controlling Your Narrative.
The memoir, which is the second that Palmer has written at the age of just 31, will be published in three weeks on November 19.
