K
eke Palmer and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson, have allegedly broken up after two years of dating. These speculations have been going around the internet since Jackson deleted his Twitter posts and cleared photos of Palmer and himself from his Instagram account. We know this is one way to spark a break-up rumor when the bae-watch posts suddenly go off the grid. However, this appears to be true as a source confirmed to People Magazine’s informants that Jackson has “moved on.” And while we thought Keke Palmer was being the bigger person by generally keeping mum, we had no idea that she was cooking petty to be served sizzling hot.
Usher just released a new song titled Boyfriend, and Palmer featured in the video showcasing her dance moves while sprinkling not-so-subtle clap backs at her ex. Tales of love gone sour aren’t sweet to tell, especially in this instance when the public perceived Palmer and Jackson as a dreamy couple. The duo started dating in 2021 after meeting at a party, and in December 2022, Palmer confirmed the tales going around concerning her pregnancy. (Yeah, we all remember the announcement that broke the internet while hosting Saturday Night Live). They eventually welcomed their baby, Leodis “Leo” Andrellton, in February 2023, beaming in each other’s company like inseparable lovebirds. Sadly, it now appears things are over, leaving many wondering what could have gone wrong.
The visible cracks
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A little over a month ago, the Nope actress attended an Usher “My Way” residency show in Las Vegas with her friends, where Usher danced with Palmer and serenaded the star. Of course, this moment was caught on camera and quickly blew up online. Here’s the thing: many facets of this video could have contributed to it going viral — the butt-cheeks-baring sheer black dress, the sultry dance with Usher, or the unmissable chemistry between the two performers. Whatever the reason, the internet went wild.
While the “oohs and aahs” kept gushing in from internet besties, her baby daddy couldn’t contain his disapproval. He was so full of it that he probably forgot he had her number on speed dial but took to Twitter (or should I say X) to share his two cents, “It’s the outfit though, you a mom,” he captioned a tweet of the video.
What followed was a storm of online criticism that Jackson certainly hadn’t envisioned. After caving in to the backlash, he defended himself with another post, “We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife and mother of his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others, and he gets told how much of a hater he is. This is my family and my representation. I have standards and morals for what I believe. I rest my case.”
So how did Palmer handle it? In an unexpected way. With all the chaos brewing, she chose to ignore his posts and further posted pictures from the night on her Instagram with the caption: “I wish I had taken more pictures, but we were running late!” She also emphasized, “I am telling y’all right now if you haven’t seen @usher YOU MUST GO!! HE WAS SO FABULOUS!! Giving theater, Atlanta downnn, tips and tricks, and just absolutely iconic. I was truly inspired as a performer. I whooped some a** in spades too! Where is that pic of us all together with the King himself??”
Was the split between Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson due to internet pressure?
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One thing is certain: social media is a highly influential force and if you aren’t prepared, it can whisk you off your feet and drown you in its tides. While we aren’t sure the reason for Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson’s split, as none of the parties involved have addressed the issue, speculating that the aforementioned incident played a role is not out of order.
While there’s no indication the mom-shaming incident could have been the only reason for the split, fans believe it could have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back. Perhaps, there might have been deeper issues before this and the Usher residency show was all that the duo needed to realize they couldn’t move forward together anymore. When navigating the wide waters of relationships, social media can either break or make the connection. That’s why many choose to keep these fragile issues outside the public eye.
As expected, the public has set up two camps on the matter. On the one hand, there’s a group that argues Keke was disrespectful to her man, and on the other hand, a camp that blames Jackson for starting the public brouhaha.
Countless comments have been spewed:
“He could have gone private with his dissatisfaction and discussed it with her at home or on the phone.”
“This is the problem we have with modern women. Can’t your man be upset about a flirtatious dance with another man?”
“How do you tell a grown woman what to wear?”
“How do you dress like that as a mom, and your man can’t even speak without being called insecure?”
“He’s so insecure and immature.”
“If the gender tables were turned, would the world cheer him on?”
“Don’t let no one ridicule you like this, leave that man. He’s not for you. He can’t handle a strong Black woman.”
Fans were heavy with these kinds of comments.
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While Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson’s buzz kept internet conversations on, the actress decided to embrace the spotlight. Yes, we’ve all seen Keke gallantly step into her baddie era. And baby Leo also did right by his momma. Keke has also been on about her glow-up, motherhood, and career, and this noise was yet another stepping stone. But, it was pleasantly surprising to see the star jump on Usher’s offer to collaborate on his new music video “Boyfriend.” She appeared to be throwing shades at Jackson, saying, “Dammit, I missed the show! S**t, I’m so tired. I am a mother, after all.” This action of hers further fanned the flames of the rumors of the breakup already circulating on the internet.
Palmer went further to advise new moms by saying “Do you, new moms. Do you. Girl, if there’s one person on this earth that loves you for sure, it’s that baby. Be happy, because there’s no love like it. Somebody loving you like that, hell, who cares?” We can call this a lemon-to-lemonade situation.
There are still no clear comments from both Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson to confirm the split. But their actions have been an approving nod toward this co-parenting rumor. And, as a grown, strong, opinionated woman, it’s best to believe Keke knows better than to let a viral video, buzz, and random comments dictate the direction of her relationship and life.
Featured image: Shaniqwa Jarvis for Essence Magazine via @sheekswinsalways/Instagram
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