Relationships are tricky. Add a multi-hyphenate superstar, a viral Usher concert, and a literal fitness instructor into the mix, and things get loud. Real loud. If you’ve been anywhere near the internet in the last few years, you’ve seen the name Darius Jackson. Most people just know him as the keke palmer baby daddy, but the story of their fallout—and their surprising 2026 status—is way more nuanced than a single tweet about a sheer dress.
Honestly, it started out like a movie.
Meeting at the Height of Fame
Keke and Darius didn't meet on a set. They met at a Memorial Day party in 2021. The party was hosted by Issa Rae and Diddy, which is basically the Hollywood equivalent of a royal ball. Darius isn't just a "random" guy; he’s the brother of Sarunas J. Jackson, who played Dro on Insecure. Keke had a cameo on that show, so the circles were already overlapping.
They hit it off fast. By August 2021, they were Instagram official. Keke was glowing. She’s famously private about her dating life, so when she started posting Darius, fans knew it was serious. She even called him her "partner in crime."
Then came the SNL moment. In December 2022, Keke hosted Saturday Night Live and revealed her pregnancy during the monologue. It was iconic. She literally pulled open her coat to reveal the bump.
Their son, Leodis "Leo" Andrellton Jackson, was born in February 2023. At first, everything seemed perfect. Darius was posting about how attentive a father he was, and Keke was praising him in interviews. But the cracks started showing faster than anyone expected.
The Usher Concert That Changed Everything
July 2023. Las Vegas.
👉 See also: How Old Is Pauly D? The Surprising Reality of the Jersey Shore Icon in 2026
Keke went to see Usher. She wore a sheer black Givenchy bodysuit over a thong leotard. She looked incredible. She was filmed being serenaded by Usher, and the video went viral because, well, it’s Keke Palmer and Usher.
Darius didn't like it. He took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote: "It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom."
The internet exploded.
He didn't back down either. He followed up with: "We live in a generation where a man of the family holds the woman he cares about to standards and morals he believes in. I have standards & morals to what I believe. I rest my case."
It was the "standards and morals" heard 'round the world. Most people saw it as public shaming. Keke, being the queen of composure, didn't argue with him on the timeline. Instead, she starred in Usher's music video for the song "Boyfriend" just weeks later. The level of petty was legendary. But behind the scenes, things were actually getting dangerous.
The Legal Battle and Restraining Orders
While we were all laughing at the "Boyfriend" video, Keke was living through a nightmare. In November 2023, she filed for a domestic violence restraining order against Darius. This wasn't just about a dress anymore.
✨ Don't miss: How Old Is Daniel LaBelle? The Real Story Behind the Viral Sprints
The court documents were heavy.
- Keke alleged physical abuse that had been going on for two years.
- She claimed he trespassed into her home, lunged for her neck, and struck her.
- She submitted security camera footage as evidence.
Darius fired back with his own claims, alleging Keke was the aggressor. He claimed she became "agitated and aggressive" after drinking. For a while, it looked like they were headed for a messy, public trial.
But then, something shifted.
Where Are They Now? The 2026 Update
By the time 2024 rolled around, the legal heat started to cool off. They agreed to mediation. By mid-2024, Keke actually dropped the restraining order and the request for sole custody.
Why? Because she wanted peace for Leo.
In her 2025 visual album Just Keke and her memoir Master of Me, Keke got incredibly vulnerable about this. She admitted that the breakup was the hardest thing she’d ever dealt with. Interestingly, she revealed that by the time the Usher concert happened, they were basically already broken up.
🔗 Read more: Harry Enten Net Worth: What the CNN Data Whiz Actually Earns
Today, in 2026, the situation is... actually okay. Darius Jackson is currently in the military, a career pivot that surprised a lot of people. Keke has shared that they are successfully co-parenting. They even take Leo to the zoo together.
She doesn’t call him a monster. He doesn't post about her outfits. They found a way to be parents without being a couple.
The Reality of the "Baby Mama" Label
Keke has been very vocal about reclaiming her narrative. On her podcast Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, she talked about the stigma of being a "baby mama." She hates the term because it implies a lack of choice or a lack of power.
For Keke, having Leo was a choice. Ending the relationship was a choice.
She’s built a literal empire—KeyTV—while navigating this drama. She proved that a public scandal doesn't have to define your career or your parenting.
Actionable Insights for Navigating High-Conflict Breakups
If you’re watching this saga and wondering how to handle your own relationship drama, Keke’s "Master of Me" philosophy offers some real-world steps:
- Prioritize the "Main Character": In this case, the child. Keke dropped legal battles not to "forgive" the behavior, but to create a stable environment for Leo.
- Control the Narrative, Not the Person: You can't stop an ex from tweeting nonsense, but you can choose how you respond. Keke’s response was art (the Usher video) rather than an argument.
- Seek Mediation Early: Courtrooms are for winners and losers. Mediation is for people who have to see each other at birthday parties for the next 18 years.
- Identify the "Stressors": Keke identified that fame and "too many voices" made her relationship toxic. Sometimes, the environment is the problem, not just the people.
Keke Palmer is still Keke Palmer. Darius Jackson is a father in the military. And Leo is a happy kid with two parents who figured out how to stop the noise. It's not the fairy tale we thought it was in 2021, but it’s a much more honest story of growth and boundary-setting.