Watching a beloved actress navigate a very private crisis in public is jarring. For Keke Palmer, the last two years have been defined by a painful legal battle with the father of her child, grounded in court documents and firsthand statements.
Birth name: Lauren Keyana Palmer ·
Born: August 26, 1993 (Harvey, Illinois) ·
Occupation: Actress, singer, television host ·
Notable awards: 2 Primetime Emmy Awards ·
Child: Leodis Andrellton Jackson (born February 2023) ·
Ex-partner: Darius Jackson (2021–2023)
Quick snapshot
- Keke Palmer filed for a restraining order in November 2023 (Us Weekly)
- Judge granted temporary order on Nov 10, 2023 (Us Weekly)
- Palmer accused Jackson of physical and emotional abuse (ABC7 Los Angeles)
- Final resolution of custody and the restraining order — case ongoing
- Exact net worth figures vary widely by source
- Nature of relationship with Sean Evans remains unconfirmed
- Restraining order filed Nov 2023; temporary order granted within days (Us Weekly)
- Jackson filed counter-response seeking joint custody (Rolling Stone)
- Palmer dropped restraining order & sole-custody requests in May 2024 (The Source)
- July 2024 domestic violence hearing canceled after new filings (The Source)
- Co-parenting arrangement reportedly in place as of early 2025 (People)
Seven key facts about Palmer’s background and legal situation, one pattern: the contrast between her professional ascent and the private turmoil that erupted in late 2023.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Lauren Keyana Palmer |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Harvey, Illinois |
| Children | 1 son (Leodis Andrellton Jackson) |
| Net worth (estimate) | $8 million (2024, various sources) |
| Major awards | 2 Primetime Emmy Awards |
| Breakthrough role | Akeelah in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ (2006) |
Is Keke Palmer LGBTQ?
Keke Palmer’s sexual orientation public statements
Keke Palmer has consistently publicly identified as heterosexual. She has been in relationships with men throughout her career. In interviews, she has not confirmed any LGBTQ identity — neither in her public statements nor through her social media presence.
Media speculation vs. Palmer’s self-identification
Although some online circles have speculated about her sexuality based on her fashion choices or her close friendships with LGBTQ figures, Palmer herself has never claimed a queer identity. Her Entertainment Tonight profile from the relationship timeline confirms she was in a heterosexual relationship with Darius Jackson starting in 2021.
What happened with Keke Palmer and her husband?
Relationship timeline: Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson
- August 2021: Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson began dating, according to Entertainment Tonight’s timeline.
- February 2023: Their son Leodis Andrellton Jackson was born.
- October 2023: Palmer split from Jackson, citing physical and emotional abuse, per Us Weekly.
- November 2023: Palmer filed for a temporary restraining order, requesting sole legal and physical custody of their son.
Palmer and Jackson were never married — though many media outlets still refer to him as her “husband” informally. Their relationship lasted roughly two years before the abuse allegations surfaced.
Allegations of abuse and restraining order
Palmer’s court filing, reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, alleged that Jackson struck her and grabbed her around the neck. She also claimed he trespassed into her home, threatened her, and threw her over a couch. The filing further alleged that Jackson “got rough” with their baby — a claim that Us Weekly reported based on the court documents.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge granted the temporary restraining order on November 10, 2023. Per the order, Jackson was required to stay 100 yards away from Palmer and their child, and visitation with Leodis was barred until further order of the court.
Current legal status of the case
Darius Jackson responded by denying the allegations and seeking joint legal and physical custody, as Rolling Stone reported. By May 2024, Palmer’s attorney filed documents that led to the cancellation of a domestic violence hearing scheduled for July 16, 2024. The Source reported that Palmer dropped both the restraining-order and sole-custody requests that same month.
By January 2025, Palmer told People that she and Jackson were co-parenting peacefully, describing the relationship as a “toxic dynamic” and calling it “domestic violence.”
Who has custody of Keke Palmer’s son?
Initial custody arrangements
When Palmer filed for the temporary restraining order in November 2023, she also requested sole legal and physical custody of Leodis. The temporary order gave Palmer primary physical custody and barred Jackson from visitation until a further hearing.
Impact of restraining order on custody
Jackson’s response filing sought joint legal and physical custody, arguing that Palmer had denied him access to their son after the temporary order was issued, as Rolling Stone noted. Page Six reported in January 2024 that Palmer was still seeking sole legal and physical custody at that point.
Current custody status (as of latest court documents)
By May 2024, Palmer dropped her requests for a restraining order and sole custody,
Freddie Clarke is Senior Reporter at WordPatch.co.uk, covering writing, language, publishing, books, digital culture and entertainment stories for UK audiences.