Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson are over.
The former couple started dating in 2021, with the actress revealing on “Saturday Night Live” two years later that their first child was on the way.
Baby boy Leodis, nicknamed Leo, arrived in February 2023.
9
9
However, months after celebrating their newfound parenthood, Palmer and her beau broke up after he publicly shamed her for wearing a sexy outfit.
After the on-again, off-again couple continued to spend time together — and Palmer played coy about their status — she filed for full custody of Leo in November 2023 and accused her former partner of physical and emotional abuse.
Here’s what you need to know about Jackson.
Who is Jackson?
Jackson, who also goes by Darius Daulton, works in both the fitness and entertainment industries.
Although little is known about Jackson’s early life, according to a fitness bio, he grew up playing several sports and attended Fresno State University on a football scholarship.
In the same profile, Jackson said on weekends he likes “to catch up on sleep, then check in to see what I can get myself into, whether it’s hanging out w/ friends, family or going to the movies by myself.”
He keeps a fairly low profile on social media but occasionally posts photos of himself traveling, acting and hanging out with friends.
How is he related to Sarunas Jackson?
9
Some fans may have heard of Jackson because his brother, Sarunas Jackson, played Alejandro “Dro” Peña on Issa Rae’s hit HBO show “Insecure” from 2017 to 2021.
Darius is seemingly following in his big brother’s footsteps, as Sarunas also played sports before launching his acting career.
What is Jackson’s job?
9
Prior to getting involved in the entertainment world, Jackson was looking into “pursuing his career” in sports media and even “received a certificate in broadcasting,” per his Inspire Fitness bio.
Jackson also dipped his toes into YouTube, where his channel reached 19,000 followers at one point, according to Us Weekly. His page has since been taken down.
He’s teased on his Instagram a few acting projects he’s been working on recently, including “Dawn of the Predator.” According to his IMDb page, he appeared on a show called “Games People Play” in 2019.
How did Palmer meet Jackson?
9
Palmer and Jackson kept their relationship quiet after they were reportedly introduced at Rae and Diddy’s Memorial Day party in May 2021 following the “True Jackson, VP” alum’s a brief cameo in a Season 5 episode of “Insecure.”
They eventually went Instagram-official in August 2021 — although fans noticed both of them had deleted almost all their photos together in the spring of 2022.
“You’ve been a blessing from above,” Jackson wrote in a since-deleted post. “Never would have expected summer2021 to turn out the way it did, but here we are. 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.”
9
Palmer also got sentimental in a since-deleted video of her boyfriend originally posted in October 2021.
“Without being too mushy because I HATEEEE THAT, it feels really nice to not be afraid to show this kind of care for someone that I don’t share the same blood with,” she captioned the clip. “I thought it could never happen, I can be quite guarded, but I appreciate you for being a safe space. I will always cherish what you have given me.”
What was their relationship like?
9
The “Nope” actress kept tight-lipped on her relationship, though she did tell Bustle in March 2022, “This is the happiest I’ve ever felt with someone.”
However, Jackson came under fire in July 2023 when he publicly shamed his partner for wearing a sheer ensemble to an Usher concert in Las Vegas.
“It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom,” he tweeted.
After facing backlash, the trainer doubled down on his stance, writing in part, “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. … I have standards & morals.”
When did they break up?
9
While reports surfaced in August 2023 that Palmer and Jackson were over, she claimed in her November 2023 restraining order filing that they did not call it quits “for good” until that October.
“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,” she wrote in court documents obtained by Page Six. “He needs and deserves to be safe and grow up in an environment free from violence.”
The former Nickelodeon star, who requested sole legal and physical custody of the toddler, claimed that her ex was more “unhinged, volatile and dangerous” post-breakup.
Although her and Jackson’s reps did not respond to Page Six’s requests for comment, he tweeted a photo of Leo at the time and wrote he would see the little one “soon.”
