Keke Palmer is reflecting on her “unhealthy” relationship with ex Darius Jackson.
The “Nope” star, 31, looked back on her romance with the 30-year-old fitness instructor that ended in turmoil in an interview with People, which published Wednesday to promote her upcoming memoir, “Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative.”
“It was like, not only is this the person, but this is the time. It felt very spiritual for Darius and I,” Palmer said about the start of her relationship with Jackson, with whom she shares 1-year-old son Leo.
“We had separate lonelinesses, and we created a space for us to exist in that loneliness together,” the actress went on. “And then we wanted to have a son. Leo was very planned.”
The former couple began dating in 2021, but their relationship imploded starting in July 2023, when Jackson shamed Palmer over her sheer, body-baring ensemble that she wore to an Usher concert. “It’s the outfit tho … you a mom,” tweeted Jackson at the time.
His comment sparked major backlash on social media, but Jackson still doubled down on what he said. “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 added.
Palmer reportedly writes in her book that the relationship was already “unhappy and unhealthy” before the Usher incident.
Four months after she was body-shamed, Palmer filed for full custody of her son and filed a restraining order against Jackson. The Nickelodeon alum included surveillance camera footage of alleged abuse instances at the hands of Jackson.
In response, Jackson claimed that Palmer was “the primary aggressor” in their relationship. He alleged that Palmer “was verbally and physically abusive” and “frequently became agitated and aggressive after consuming alcohol.”
“It got so out of control,” Palmer told People about the relationship drama. “The only way I knew how to bring order was through the court.”
The “Password” host added that “having a baby was a big stressor” for the pair, as was fame. “Not just with my romantic relationships, but with family and friends, it’s always become a burden,” Palmer explained.
“Too many voices get in. It can make everybody else not trust you. It’s hard to explain.”
After the abuse allegations and fighting over the custody of their son, Palmer and Jackson participated in court-ordered mediation and settled on a joint custody agreement.
Palmer, in her book, reportedly writes, “I wish I could say he was terrible the entire time or that I was … but it wasn’t that black-and-white and that was the problem. I didn’t want my son to think his father is a monster, because I don’t.”
She also told People that she’s “so proud” and “happy” for Jackson who is now in the military.
“I feel very at ease now knowing things are under control,” Palmer added.
Palmer’s book comes out November 19.