Keke Palmer is seeking a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson, who she claims has been physically and emotionally abusive to her.
The Nickelodeon alum, 30, is also asking for full legal and physical custody of their eight-month-old son Leodis but wishes to grant Jackson visitation, according to The Blast.
In the restraining order request, which she filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, it was noted that the relationship — which began in 2021 — ‘finally ended for good’ early last month ‘primarily due to the physical and emotional abuse inflicted.’
Palmer accused Jackson of abusing her as recently as November 5, stating that she has security footage to back up claims that he ‘trespassed into my home without my knowledge or consent’ and ‘threatened’ her before ‘lunging for my neck, striking me, throwing me over the couch and stealing my phone.’
The site also reported that Palmer alleged there have been ‘many instances of physical violence’ with Jackson, including him ‘hitting’ her in front of their son.
Restraining order: Keke Palmer is seeking a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson, who she claims has been physically and emotionally abusive to her; seen in March
Legal action: The Nickelodeon alum, 30, is also asking for full legal and physical custody of their eight-month-old son Leodis but wishes to grant Jackson visitation, according to The Blast
Following the news that Keke filed for custody of their son, Darius took to his Twitter to share a photo of him holding Leodis, and wrote, ‘I love you, son. See you soon.’
Other incidents listed by Keke reportedly involved him ‘destroying personal property, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses’ as well as throwing Keke’s ‘belongings into the street.’
She also accused him of ‘throwing my car keys to prevent me from driving away, spewing profanities about me to our son, threatening to kill himself with a gun if I left him, harassment, and other physical and emotional abuse.’
In her filing Keke also expressed being ‘concerned for Leo’s safety’ due to prior incidents.
She claimed that on September 26, 2023 Darius became ‘very frustrated with him when Leo was crying while Darius changed his diaper.’
She explained that her former partner ‘started getting rough with Leo physically and I stepped in to make sure Darius would not hurt him.’
She continued: ‘Darius was angry and it almost became a tug of war with Leo. Darius finally let go and Leo was not harmed, but as I was holding Leo trying to comfort him and finish changing his diaper, Darius hit me in the head before storming out of the room.’
Along with her filing, she also included screenshots of what appears to be security footage featuring a man striking a woman over a sofa.
Keke also shared incidents of emotional abuse, writing, ‘If we were at a party or event, and I spoke with one person too long or looked at someone a “certain way”, he would storm off in a rage – telling me I was ‘s**t’ and a ‘w***e,’ accuse me of cheating on him, and that I did not love him.’
Social media response: Following the news that Keke filed for custody of their son, Darius took to his Twitter to share a photo of him holding Leodis, and wrote, ‘I love you, son. See you soon’
‘Physical and emotional abuse’: In the filing, it was noted that the relationship — which began in 2021 — ‘finally ended for good’ early last month ‘primarily due to the physical and emotional abuse inflicted’
Security footage: Palmer accused Jackson of abusing her as recently as November 5, stating that she has security footage to back up her claim; they are seen in 2022
Serious allegations: Palmer alleged there have been ‘many instances of physical violence’ with Jackson, including him ‘hitting’ her in front of their son
Concerned: In her filing, Keke expressed being ‘concerned for Leo’s safety’ after Darius ‘started getting rough with Leo physically’ after becoming frustrated by his crying
Keke revealed it was the birth of their son that helped her make the decision to end their relationship.
‘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. 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,’ she wrote.
Keke and Darius’ relationship hit a rough patch when he went viral for tweeting his disapproval of a tight, sheer, thong bodysuit dress she wore to attend Usher’s Las Vegas residency in July.
At the time, he wrote online, ‘It’s the outfit tho… you a mom.’
When fans came to Palmer’s defense, Jackson doubled down as he fired off a second tweet defending himself.
‘We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife & mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others & he gets told how much of a hater he is,’ he said.
‘This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case,’ he added.
Meanwhile, the Nope actress did not address the situation explicitly, but appeared on Instagram to share outtakes from the evening and tell fans she wished she had taken more photos.
Earlier this year: The duo began dating in 2021 and welcomed their son this past February
Usher later commented on the post, writing, ‘The Big Boss!! Thank U for coming.’
Following the incident, the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram but they later celebrated Palmer’s birthday together in August.
In an episode of her podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer that was recorded before the drama, Darius admitted to having high standards for his romantic partners.
In the clip, shared one week after the couple made headlines, Palmer asked Jackson how he felt when they decided to go public with their romance.
The fitness instructor revealed he felt ‘pressure’ to be perfect, and confessed to holding Keke to that same standard of perfection.
‘You almost feel that pressure of needing to be perfect,’ Jackson answered.
‘And so, it really confused me and infiltrated my mind because not only did I have to hold myself to that perfect standard, I was also holding you to a perfect standard as well,’ he added.
Although fans have speculated that Keke and Darius may have broken up either before or immediately after the wardrobe drama, neither party has confirmed their current relationship status.
Relationship drama: Darius publicly criticized Keke over the summer, after she wore a sheer black dress over a thong bodysuit to an Usher concert
In August Jackson posted a short video clip of Palmer snuggling with their son on social media.
‘Happy Birthday to a one of a kind being. Hoping your 30s brings you many joys & triumphs,’ he wrote.
When Keke stopped by the Today show in September, Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager pressed her about her relationship.
‘You know, I’m going to take a page out of my girl Beyonce’s book… mind y’all’s business!’ Palmer told the hosts.