Few modern-day stars who are as multihyphenated as Keke Palmer—the actress, singer, author, activist and television personality has been entertaining audiences for two decades, which is quite a feat given that the star is only 31.
Over those years, the former Nickelodeon star has successfully segued from child-friendly projects like Akeelah and the Bee, Madea’s Family Reunion and True Jackson, VP to more adult-approved fare like Hustlers, Nope and One of Them Days. And nowadays, the two-time Emmy winner is leading the star-studded cast of Prime Video’s new heist comedy The Pickup, alongside the likes of Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson and Eva Longoria.
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In the action-packed flick, which premiered on the streamer on August 6, Palmer portrays Zoe, a cunning criminal mastermind who has a bit of a romantic history with Davidson’s character Travis. But what about Palmer’s own romantic history off-screen? Here is everything we know about the multitalented star’s relationship past, including the father of her sweet baby boy Leo.
Is Keke Palmer single?
It would seem so. While she was in a relationship with Darius Jackson until 2023, she's made no official statements about a new man in her life since.
Related: Keke Palmer’s Net Worth in 2025 Means ‘Nope,’ She’s Never Broke
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 29: (L-R) Keke Palmer, Leo Jackson, and Darius Jackson attend the "Big Boss" Closing Night Screening during the 2023 Atlanta Film Festival at Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University on April 29, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Derek White/WireImage)Derek White/WireImage
Keke Palmer is not currently married, nor has she been in the past. However, she has had several serious relationships over the years, the most recent being her romance with fitness instructor Darius Jackson, whom she dated from June 2021 to October 2023.
The former couple met at an after-party for the HBO series Insecure in 2021—Palmer had a cameo in the Issa Rae-created series, while Jackson is the brother of series actor Sarunas Jackson. "I walked up to [Darius]. My best friend was like, 'You should just say something to him. You should ask if he wants a drink,'" Palmer said during a June 2023 appearance onThe Terrell Show. "When I walked up to him, I was not looking for love. I was looking for a roster, you understand? And so I was like, 'He fits the physical bill.' But when I talked to him... he was such a sweetheart. I think what I saw was he's just a sweet guy."
However, those initial good vibes soon turned tumultuous in the on-and-off-again relationship, with the pair splitting up in fall 2023 and Palmer filing for a restraining order against Jackson in November of that year.
Why did Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson break up?
The end of Keke and Darius’s relationship followed a series of alleged incidents of domestic violence, which saw the actress seek legal intervention in the form of a temporary restraining order against her partner, as well as temporary sole custody of their child. "It got so out of control," Palmer told PEOPLE in an interview published October 30. "The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court."
"I can't explain why it went the way it did, but what I do know is that one of us had to put an end to it existing as it was, or there could've been a big mistake that would've irreversibly affected both of our lives," Palmer wrote in her memoir Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.
She added in the book: "The fallout of our relationship, especially through the court system, was the hardest thing I've ever had to go through..But I knew no other way to bring order to the situation for both of us because it had truly gotten above me. I didn't want people to hate him or think he was crazy and judge his entire character on the worst aspects that I experienced. But, most importantly, I didn't want my son to think his father is a monster, because I don't."
Palmer dropped the restraining order and custody requests against Jackson in May 2024. The exes seem to be in a healthier place, especially when it comes to coparenting their son Leo. "I gotta be honest, I would've never thought that I would be where I am now, and so I'm very grateful that this has now been the outcome and we've been able to coexist in this way and show up for our son, and just be in a different place. It's a real blessing," Palmer shared with PEOPLE.
Related: Keke Palmer’s Humor Is Written All Over Her Birth Chart
No, Keke Palmer and Usher have never, as far as public knowledge is concerned, been romantically involved with each other. (For his part, Usher is currently married to his longtime partner Jennifer Goioechea, with whom he shares two children; he was previously married to Tameka Foster from 2007 to 2009 and Grace Miguel from 2015 to 2018.)
However, an incident between the two performers during an Usher concert in Las Vegas back in 2023 did draw a lot of attention, including from Palmer’s then-boyfriend Darius Jackson. During the show, Usher serenaded and danced with Palmer, who was glammed up in a black sheer dress.
The viral video that followed prompted a heated public response from Jackson, who tweeted: "It's the outfit tho.. you a mom," seemingly criticizing Palmer’s sultry ensemble. "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 also posted. “This is my family & my representation. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case."
At the time, Palmer didn’t respond to her partner’s criticism; however, she later cheekily threw shade at Jackson by starring alongside Usher in the singer’s music video for “Boyfriend” just one month after the drama unfolded. During a February 2025 episode of the Baby, This Is Keke Palmerpodcast, the titular host joked of the concert scandal: “People have problems. Relationships have ups and downs. If Usher ends up being there, it’s just coincidence.”
How many children does Keke Palmer have?
Keke Palmer has one son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, who she shares with ex Darius Jackson. Palmer announced her pregnancy while hosting Saturday Night Live in December 2022, with the boy being born a few months later in February.
"People have been in my comments saying 'Keke's having a baby, Keke's pregnant.' "And I want to set the record straight — I am!" the star announced to the audience during her opening monologue. "This has been the biggest blessing and I am so excited," she added.
Palmer recently discussed with Audacy the difficulties of balancing motherhood with starring in high-profile projects like The Pickup. "It's tough man, cause you want to make sure that you're getting enough time with your little one," she shared. "These are the years that are the most important, where they're growing, they're becoming the foundational base of who they are, what they believe, and you want to be a part of that, seeing him walk and talk and all those memories were very important to me."
"But I do think it's always going to be a balance. At the end of the day, I am a working mom, and I don't think any job is easy, even stay-at-home mom. Shout out to the stay-at-home moms. That's not easy.”
Related: Keke Palmer Opens Up About 'Intense' Health Condition Following Birth of Her First Baby
Who else has Keke Palmer dated?
Prior to her relationship with Darius Jackson, Keke Palmer was romantically linked to several public figures, including rapper Ben J, actor Rodney King, actor-dancer Quincy Brown and rapper-actor YG.
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