7 Shocking Updates On Keke Palmer And Darius Jackson: The Custody Battle, New Path, And Unhealthy Split
The tumultuous, high-profile relationship between actress and media personality Keke Palmer and her ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson, has finally entered a new, definitive chapter as of late 2025. Following months of intense public scrutiny, legal battles, and domestic allegations, the former couple has reportedly reached a resolution on all matters, including the custody of their young son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, allowing both to move forward with dramatically different life paths. The saga—which began with a viral social media moment—culminated in a private mediation that saw Keke drop her most serious legal requests, while Darius embraced a surprising new career in the military.
The latest updates, surfacing in the latter half of
The Complete Profile: Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson Biography
To understand the full scope of their public split, it is essential to first detail the professional and personal backgrounds of both Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson, who come from two vastly different professional worlds.
Keke Palmer (Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer)
- Born: August 26, 1993 (Age 32 as of late 2025)
- Birthplace: Harvey, Illinois, U.S.
- Core Career: Actress, Singer, Television Host, and Media Personality.
- Career Highlights:
- Made her acting debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004).
- Starred in Akeelah and the Bee (2006).
- Became the youngest talk show host in history at the time with Just Keke (2014).
- First Black woman to star as Cinderella on Broadway (2014).
- Co-hosted the daytime talk show Strahan, Sara and Keke (2019–2020).
- Starred in Jordan Peele's film Nope (2022), earning widespread critical acclaim.
- Released music, including the album Waited to Exhale (2007).
- Recent Accolades: Emmy Award wins and nominations for various hosting and acting roles, solidifying her status as a multi-hyphenate star.
Darius Jackson (Darius Daulton Jackson)
- Born: c. 1993 (Age 32 as of late 2025)
- Core Career: Former Professional Football Player, Fitness Instructor, and now U.S. Army Soldier.
- Family Connection: Brother of actor Sarunas Jackson (known for HBO’s Insecure).
- Sports Career:
- Played college football at Jacksonville State University (JSU), Eastern Michigan University (EMU), and Texas State, primarily as a defensive end and safety.
- Had a brief stint as a running back in the National Football League (NFL).
- Relationship Timeline with Keke Palmer:
- Met in 2021 at a Memorial Day party.
- Confirmed relationship in August 2021.
- Welcomed son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, in February 2023.
- Public controversy and split in July 2023.
The Infamous Usher Concert Drama and Public Split
The catalyst for the end of the couple's relationship was a single, highly scrutinized social media post in July 2023.
Keke Palmer attended an Usher concert in Las Vegas, where the R&B star serenaded her. She was wearing a sheer black dress over a bodysuit.
Darius Jackson took to X (formerly Twitter) to publicly criticize her attire, stating, "It's the outfit tho.. you a mom." The comment, widely viewed as "body-policing," immediately went viral, sparking a massive public debate about motherhood, celebrity, and a partner's right to control a woman's appearance.
The backlash against Jackson was swift and overwhelming. Keke Palmer responded indirectly, embracing the moment and even appearing in Usher's music video for "Boyfriend," which was a clear nod to the controversy.
Following the incident, the couple quietly separated, and Jackson deleted his social media accounts for a time. The public split was official shortly thereafter, setting the stage for the legal battle.
The Custody Battle Resolution and Domestic Allegations
The split escalated into a serious legal matter in November 2023 when Keke Palmer filed for a domestic violence restraining order against Darius Jackson.
In her filing, she also sought sole physical and legal custody of their son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. The court documents included allegations of physical abuse and disturbing incidents of violence that occurred over the course of their relationship.
Jackson vehemently denied the allegations, leading to a period of mediation between the two parties.
Joint Custody Agreement: A Path Forward
In a significant development in late 2024, Keke Palmer dropped her request for the restraining order and sole custody of their son.
The ex-couple reportedly resolved their issues, agreeing to a joint custody arrangement. This resolution allowed them to avoid a protracted and highly publicized court battle, which Keke later mentioned was being negatively influenced by her celebrity status.
Keke Palmer later opened up about the experience, describing the relationship and the subsequent public fallout as "unhealthy" and the "hardest thing I ever had to go through," highlighting the intense strain her fame placed on the custody battle.
Despite the drama, Keke has maintained a stance of privacy regarding her co-parenting relationship, famously telling the public to "Mind Y'all's Business" when asked about her current status with Jackson.
Darius Jackson's Surprising New Career and Redemption Arc
Perhaps the most unexpected recent update involves Darius Jackson's career pivot, which he publicly framed as a personal redemption.
In early 2025, Jackson confirmed that he had enlisted in the U.S. Army. Reports suggest he signed a four-year contract, making a dramatic shift from his previous career as a former NFL player and fitness professional.
Jackson shared his decision on social media, implying that the military path was a necessary step for personal growth and to gain "redemption" following the intense public scrutiny and legal issues. This move was seen by many as a serious commitment to a new, disciplined life path.
Moving On: New Relationships and New Beginnings
While Keke Palmer continues to focus on her thriving career and co-parenting, Darius Jackson appears to have moved on romantically.
In late 2024, Jackson seemingly debuted a new relationship on social media, sharing a short video with a woman, expressing his thankfulness during the holiday season. While the relationship has not been officially confirmed, the post strongly suggested he has found a new partner following the end of his relationship with Keke Palmer.
For both Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson, the closure of the custody battle and the dramatic life changes mark a definitive end to their romantic saga. The focus for both is now on co-parenting Leodis and pursuing their radically different professional and personal futures.
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