Keke Palmer‘s love life took an unsavory turn earlier this year when her then-boyfriend Darius Jackson shed light on the discord in their relationship with a single social media post.
Back in July, after the 30-year-old actress and singer attended Usher‘s Las Vegas residency, Jackson took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his disapproval of her sexy outfit — a black thong bodysuit worn underneath a sheer dress.
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.’
Now, four months later, the extent of their turbulent romance has been made public as the Nope star filed a restraining order against Darius, who is the father of her eight-month-old son Leodis. Keke also requested sole legal and physical custody of their baby. The shocking allegations accuse her former partner of ongoing ‘physical and emotional abuse.’
Below is a look at the timeline of their relationship.
A look back: Keke Palmer ‘s love life took an unsavory turn earlier this year when her then-boyfriend Darius Jackson shed light on the discord in their relationship with a single social media post; pictured in April in Atlanta
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
November 9, 2023: Keke files restraining order against Darius in Los Angeles and seeks full custody of their son
In her twenty years of working in show business, Palmer kept a low profile in regards to her love life — until she met Darius.
She went public with her beau in August 2021 and announced her pregnancy in December 2022 while hosting Saturday Night Live. The couple’s son was born the following February.
This week it came to light that the relationship ‘finally ended for good’ in early October ‘primarily due to the physical and emotional abuse inflicted.’
Palmer accused Jackson of abusing her as recently as November 5, and submitted surveillance footage to a Los Angeles court that showed 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.’
Palmer alleged there have been ‘many instances of physical violence’ with Jackson, including him ‘hitting’ her in front of their son.
Following the news that Keke filed for custody of their son, Darius took to social media 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.’
Submission: In her court filing, the actress included a series of images that showed the fitness trainer allegedly throwing her over a couch
Social media response: Following the news that Keke filed for custody of their son, Darius took to X to share a photo of him holding Leodis, and wrote, ‘I love you, son. See you soon’
November 10, 2023: Keke’s mom Sharon Palmer breaks her silence on the domestic violence claims
Sharon claimed she told Darius’ brother Sarunas Jackson over a year ago about his sibling’s abusive behavior.
Palmer’s mother, who also goes by Shayla, took to Instagram to share a video message slamming Sarunas for branding Jackson ‘a disgusting, vile, abusive, manipulative person’ in a now-deleted X post.
She said: ‘For Sarunas Jackson to post on his Twitter the ridiculous stuff he posted when he knew his brother was abusive.
‘I went to Sarunas over a year ago and told him that his brother was abusive to my daughter, and he said, “Well, I used to be like that too.”
‘So now he’s posting on Twitter like he’s this special guy when we know he’s the biggest f***boy in Hollywood; he’s disrespectful to women just like his brother.’
She also claimed Sarunas ‘taught his brother how to be abusive’ and added: ‘He don’t get to act like he’s this special guy. No. You’re a f***boy, and you’re part of the problem.’
The video was captioned: ‘I dare you , mess with my family. family means everything to me ! you and your family act like sociopaths and like the world can’t see it. you are phony ! and i saw you from day one, my daughter is kind and our family treated you with kindness and this is how you treat it. i won’t take this laying down anymore IM DONE!’
Sarunas’ deleted X post read: ‘The most disgusting, vile, abusive, manipulative person I have EVER encountered in my entire life… Abuses almost everyone. Y’all will see…
‘Just send positive energy to the babies… Any child in the middle of something like this does not deserve it AT ALL. Wow. So damn sad.’
Fury: Keke Palmer’s mother broke her silence after the actress accused her ex Darius of ‘repeated physical and emotional abuse’ — and claimed she told his brother Sarunas he was abusive one year ago
July 12, 2023: Darius is a guest on Keke’s Palmer and discusses feeling pressure to ‘be perfect’
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.
July 7, 2023: The entrepreneur debuts a line of merchandise with the phrase ‘I’m a motha’
Days after Jackson’s viral tweets, when asked by The Cut if she had a message to the moms who had come to her defense amid the scandal, Keke replied by encouraging others to ‘wear whatever they feel comfortable in.’
‘Do you, new moms. Do you. Girl, if there’s one person on this earth that loves you for sure, it’s that baby,’ she said.
‘Be happy, because there’s no love like it. Somebody loving you like that, hell, who cares?’
She also indirectly replied to Darius’ statements by releasing a line of merch that had the words ‘I’m a motha’ printed across the front.
‘One thing is certain and one thing is true, IM A MOTHA, through and through!’ she wrote in a social media caption.
‘“IM A MOTHA” and “Stevie to the bullshit” shirts available NOW! Link in bio 🙂
To all my mom’s out there, how did your baby change you?? Mine empowered me! On such another level, my perspective changed because when my baby is good I’m GREAT! Look at that face! Gratitude galore,’ she added.
She also teamed up with Usher and starred in the music video for his song Boyfriend in August 2023.
In the clip, Keke dreamed about dancing with Usher on a casino floor because she accidentally slept through his concert.
‘Damn it, I missed the show! S**t, I’m so tired,’ she exclaimed before winking to the camera and adding, ‘I am a mother, after all.’
Keke indirectly replied to Darius’ statements by releasing a line of merch with the words ‘I’m a motha’ printed across the front
July 5, 2023: Darius gets roasted on social media after shaming Keke’s outfit but DOUBLES DOWN with another tweet — ‘I have morals and standards’
The romance had appeared to be going strong through July 2023, but Darius ignited online furor after publicly shaming the outfit Keke wore to Usher’s concert.
The Akeelah and the Bee star 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.
Taking to the online platform, she wrote in the caption: ‘I wish I had taken more pictures but we were running late!’
Following the outfit criticism, the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram, leaving the status of their romance in question.
Then in August, they appeared together in a video shared online as they celebrated Keke’s birthday.
Still keeping mum on their boyfriend/girlfriend status, Jackson referred to Palmer as his ‘partner in crime.’
Relationship drama: Darius publicly criticized Keke over the summer, after she wore a sheer black dress over a thong bodysuit to an Usher concert
Pivot: In her twenty years of working in show business, Palmer kept low profile in regards to her love life — until she met Darius
February 27, 2023: Keke reveals she gave birth to first baby with Darius as she shares first photo of their son Leodis — ‘Welcome to the world!’
In February Keke announced that she had given birth to her first child, a son named Leodis Andrellton, with boyfriend Darius, on Instagram.
The new mom looked serene as she and her beau gazed adoringly at their infant.
In a photo carousel uploaded on the site, the Emmy Award winner raved about her first 48 hours of parenthood while giving a glimpse of her bundle of joy wrapped up in a light gray patterned onesie and white beanie.
‘I’m not hiding the world from my son, I’m hiding my son from the world,’ she joked in the caption, referring to a Drake lyric.
She also pointed out that her son was ‘born during Black History Month’ and has ‘a name to match.’
‘LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo,’ she concluded.
January 29, 2023: Keke shines at her Once Upon A Baby-themed shower
The actress threw a ‘Once Upon A Baby’ baby shower in January.
Taking to Instagram, she gave her followers a look at the festive affair with numerous videos and photos, while showing off her growing baby bump.
Palmer and Jackson were joined by family and friends in celebration of what would be the couple’s first child together.
The former Disney Channel and Nickelodeon child star made the rounds at the high-energy party, decked out in a tan maxi dress with her raven tresses pulled into a flirty updo.
‘A long time ago, in a land not so far… The King and Queen got together to play. The play turned to love as many sunsets passed by. Now there’s a prince, who’s soon to arrive!’ Palmer wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
New parents: In February Keke announced that she gave birth to her first child, a son named Leodis Andrellton, with boyfriend Darius, on Instagram
Baby shower: The actress threw a ‘Once Upon A Baby’ baby shower in January and was joined by her man
January 4, 2023: The pair enjoy relaxing ‘baby moon’ during tropical getaway
Keke showed off her burgeoning baby bump in a series of photos that captured special moments during a tropical getaway.
She wrote in a caption to her fans that her ‘baby moon was in full effect.’
One snap saw Darius drape an arm over her shoulders as they posed in front of a small jet.
January 2023: Pregnant Keke accidentally reveals her first child’s gender on The Tonight Show
The expectant mother accidentally revealed her baby’s gender during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
While chatting with the late-night host about what zodiac sign her little one would be, she let it slip that she was expecting a son.
‘So, my baby is either going to be a Pisces or Aries,’ she gushed. ‘Pisces are known to be very deep. They’re emotional creatures. So, I just want to make sure I’m not too blunt for my baby boy.’
She went on to admit that ‘sometimes’ she can be a ‘little too “tell-it-how-it-is” and might have to learn to ‘wade in the water with a Pisces’ and ‘keep it chill.’
Prior to the interview, fans speculated Palmer was having a girl after she tweeted that it ‘kills’ her ‘when guys are disappointed that they are having a girl.’
Memorable trip: The duo enjoyed a ‘baby moon’ and shared snaps from the getaway in January
Glowing: Keke accidentally revealed her baby’s gender while appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
December 2022: Keke Palmer CONFIRMS she’s expecting first child as she rips open blazer to reveal baby bump during SNL opening monologue
Palmer confirmed she was expecting by flashing her pregnant belly during her opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.
The star, who was hosting for the first time on the sketch comedy series, brought up ‘rumors’ circulating around on the internet that she was pregnant.
‘I want to set the record straight,’ she firmly announced. After a brief second, Keke began to unbutton her long blazer and ripped it open to reveal her bump.
‘I am!’ she happily gushed, throwing her hands onto her bump while the audience loudly cheered in congratulations.
Keke then excitedly informed viewers that ‘this has been the biggest blessing. I’m going to be a mom.’
Shortly after the announcement, Darius confirmed he was the father by uploading an adorable snap of Keke cradling her baby bump with the caption, ‘2023’ and a red heart emoji.
Big reveal: KeKe first confirmed she was expecting her first child with Darius while hosting Saturday Night Live in December
Happy: Shortly after the announcement, Darius confirmed he was the father by uploading a snap of Keke cradling her bump with the caption, ‘2023’ and a red heart emoji
March 2022: The actress makes first comments about the relationship during interview
During an interview with Bustle, Palmer made her first comments about the pair’s relationship.
‘I just think [this] was a moment in time in my life where I really stepped into this kind of boss behavior [of doing] whatever the hell I want to do,’ she told the publication about initially deciding to keep the union private.
‘This is the happiest I’ve ever felt with someone. So why would I go out of my way to hide this person? That’s a lot more work than just living in my life and being in my life. You know what I’m saying?’
November 2021: Jackson appears on Palmer’s TikTok account for the first time
Jackson appeared on Palmer’s TikTok account for the first time in November 2021.
‘Lady Miss takes what she WANTS,’ she captioned a clip of herself and her beau.
Afterward, he made a number of appearances on her social media, with the duo once doing a Twitch stream together.
August 29, 2021: The pair go Instagram official
Jackson made an appearance at Palmer’s 28th birthday bash and Keke made their romance public with sweet Instagram snaps.
Photos from her party showed the pair kissing and cuddling.
Streaming together: Jackson appeared on Palmer’s TikTok account for the first time in November 2021
Instagram official: Jackson made an appearance at Palmer’s 28th birthday bash and Keke made their romance public with sweet Instagram snaps
May 2021: Keke and Darius meet each other at a Memorial Day party
Their story: The couple reportedly met sometime around Memorial Day 2021
The former couple reportedly met sometime around Memorial Day 2021.
Keke, who typically liked to keep her private life separate from her public persona, explained on The Tamron Hall Show in November 2021 that revealing the relationship became somewhat of a necessity.
‘It became more difficult to hide,’ she explained at the time.
‘We spend all this time together, and he really is my closest friend, so it just becomes a thing where I’m not gonna hide something that makes me happy.’