(L) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Keke Palmer attends Reel To Reel: Big Boss Featuring Keke Palmer in Conversation at The GRAMMY Museum on May 10, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) (R) 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Fans are in an uproar online after reports surfaced of legal actions Keke Palmer has taken against her son’s father. The actress alleges Darius Daulton Jackson has been abusive on several occasions throughout their relationship.
“The abuse in our relationship was not just physical, but emotional and manipulative. Darius would “love bomb” me and make me feel like I was the most important woman in the world, only to get extremely distant and cold over a perceived insult to him,” Keke Palmer wrote, per Radar Online.
Palmer’s filing says they dated from June 2021 until she ended the relationship in October 2023. She’s also sought legal and sole custody of their infant son, Leodis.
Here’s everything else we know about this situation so far.
Editor’s Note: The following may contain triggering information and/or visuals. If you are a victim of domestic violence seeking information or assistance, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.
According to US Weekly, Keke Palmer filed for sole, legal custody of eight-month-old Leo on Thursday (Nov. 9). In the paperwork, she explained her concern for Leo’s safety with his father.
“I am very concerned for Leo’s safety with Darius given his violent, viotile, and jealous nature, comments he has made which have caused me grave concern, and the lack of restraint Darius has already exhibited regarding his temper in front of our son,” Keke Palmer reportedly shared with the court.
In an update shared on Nov.10, Radar reports that a Los Angeles judge has granted Keke Palmer a temporary restraining order against Darius Daulton. He must stay 100 yards from Palmer and their infant son. Palmer also has sole custody of Leo “until further notice,” per the outlet. Darius is not allowed visitation. There’s reportedly a December 5 hearing in the books to determine the permanent status of the orders.
Radar reports that the court gave Darius Daulton 24 hours after being served with these orders to turn in a handgun he owns. He must give the weapon to local law enforcement. Keke Palmer told the court that he had previously threatened to commit self-harm if she left him.
One abuse incident reportedly occurred on Nov. 5. Security footage captured the incident. Palmer says Darius “trespassed into [her] home without [her knowledge or consent.”
While there, Palmer says he “screamed” at her before lunging in her direction, “grabbing at [her] neck and face.” He also “knocked [her] backwards over the couch, stole [her] phone out of [her] hands, and then “ran out of the house.”
Darius reportedly wanted to take their son to a football game, and Palmer refused. After police arrived at the scene, Keke says they recommended she file a restraining order.
As mentioned, Radar Online released screenshots of that security footage — attached to Palmer’s filing. They seem to show Darius seemingly gripping Keke Palmer while she’s partially removed from a blue couch.
In another February 2022 incident, Keke says Darius “choked and slammed [her] onto the stairs in [her] home after becoming violently jealous and irrationally angry over a bikini picture.” The night before that incident, he had allegedly “slammed” her on their bedroom floor and “slapped [her] head from side to side.”
See two of the four still released below.
Other instances of abuse listed include Darius allegedly destroying her property like “diaries and prescription glasses” and throwing her “belongings [and keys] into the street.” She also alleges he has used profane language and physically hit her in front of their infant, and expressed jealousy “about the time [she] was spending with [their] son.”
Palmer said she and Darius ended up in a “tug of war with Leo” in September 2023 after the father allegedly became “frustrated” with the child’s crying.
“Darius started getting rough with Leo physically, and I stepped in to make sure Darius would not hurt him. Darius was angry, and it almost became a tug of war with Leo,” Keke Palmer said. “Darius finally let go, and Leo was not harmed, but as I was holding Leo trying to comfort him and finish changing his diaper, Darius hit me in the head before storming out of the room.”
As more court-sourced reports by TMZ, Page Six, and Vulture made their rounds online, Darius, his brother Sarunas Jackson, and Keke Palmer’s mother have all made public statements.
