[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Keke Palmer is opening up about her messy breakup from Darius Jackson!
As Perezcious readers know, just a few months after welcoming their son Leo last year, Keke and Darius’ romance imploded. It all started when Darius criticized a dress the actress wore to an Usher concert, inciting mass rage because the comment was so sexist. He wrote at the time:
“It’s the outfit tho… you a mom”
Crazy! About his own baby momma too! Soon after, they were both accusing each other of abuse and domestic violence as they fought over the custody of their baby. S**t went downhill FAST!
Related: Channing Tatum & Zoë Kravitz Suddenly Break Up After 3 Years: REPORT
Now, over a year later, the True Jackson VP alum is finally ready to share her side of the story — and she’s doing it in a new book, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, out on November 19. While chatting with People about the book on Wednesday, the performer acknowledged she still has so much growing up to do:
“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.”
Getting candid about her breakup and the legal drama that followed, she reflected in her book:
“It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through.”
Thankfully, she and Darius are now in a better place, which is giving her the confidence to speak out. And also, thinking back to the early days of their relationship, she told the outlet:
“It was like, not only is this the person, but this is the time. It felt very spiritual for Darius and I. 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.”
But while they may have seemed like a happy couple amid her pregnancy and after their son’s birth in February 2023, “there was a lot going on” behind the scenes. On that end of it, the romance had already become “unhappy and unhealthy’ — even way before that controversial tweet by her beau.
Then came the abuse allegations, such as the Nope star claiming in her request for a temporary restraining order that Darius once broke into her home and attempted to strangle her — an incident that was caught on video. As mentioned, Darius responded by slamming Keke, arguing she had abused him amid custody disagreements. She recalled:
“It got so out of control. The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court.”
So, what went wrong?? Well, it sounds like they may have moved too fast. Leo might’ve been planned, but “having a baby was a big stressor.” Parenting is a HUGE undertaking, and it can put any romance to the test! But it wasn’t the only problem. The Akeelah and the Bee alum also blames some of their issues on her fame, too! She candidly dished:
“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.”
Oof.
The good news is that six months after taking up legal action, the co-parents finally agreed to a joint custody agreement after attending court-ordered mediation. Looking back, Keke’s willing to admit the situation wasn’t as “black-and-white” as she’d like to believe, tho. She expressed in her memoir:
“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.”
Still, it was clearly a toxic relationship. And it’s good that she got out when she did! Now, that’s her advice to anyone in a similar position. She told People:
“Walking away is the only way.”
With time and space, she’s even been able to forgive her ex — who recently entered the military. In the end, she concluded:
“I’m so proud of him and happy for him. I feel very at ease now knowing things are under control.”
Whoa! That must be such a relief! They went through a lot, but we’re just glad to hear they are in a better place.
Hear her open up more about this toxic relationship (below):
Reactions?? Sound OFF (below)!
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Consider calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, or text START to 88788, or go to https://www.thehotline.org/.
[Image via Keke Palmer/Darius Jackson/Instagram]
