Actress Keke Palmer and fitness instructor Darius Jackson, who are parents to a 5-month-old son named Leodis Andrellton Jackson, have ended their relationship after nearly two years of dating. The breakup has been reported by multiple sources.
Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson, whose brother is Sarunas Jackson from the show “Insecure,” started dating in 2021 and made their relationship public on Instagram in August of that year.
In a now-deleted post, Darius expressed his thoughts on the unexpected turn of events in summer 2021, acknowledging their support for each other during tough times. He wrote, “I’m glad we were able to help each other throughout our lowest of times & show one another that what we are bringing to the table is everything that we got.”
The split comes just over a month after Darius stirred up controversy by publicly commenting on the outfit Keke wore to an Usher concert in early July. Responding to a video of Keke shared on social media, he remarked, “It’s the outfit tho..you a mom.”
Darius remained firm in his viewpoint, asserting that he had standards and morals regarding his family’s representation. Although Keke didn’t directly engage with the online conflict, she responded in her own way by launching “I’M A MOTHA” merchandise. Furthermore, she collaborated with Usher for his music video “Boyfriend” after the incident.
Keke took center stage in the music video released on August 16 and indirectly referenced Darius during a phone call, saying, “Dammit, I missed the show! S–t, I’m so tired. I am a mother, after all.”
In the midst of the controversy, Keke offered words of encouragement to fellow new mothers, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and self-love. In an interview with The Cut in July, she encouraged new moms to embrace their roles and cherish the unique love they share with their children.
Reflecting on her own journey into motherhood, Keke expressed how empowering the experience has been for her. She noted that she has gained a new level of confidence and strength since becoming a mother. She stated, “I’m just so strengthened in a crazy way… Somebody loving you like that, hell, who cares?”
