Keke Palmer BF: What Really Happened With Darius Jackson and the Truth About PlaqueBoyMax

Keke Palmer has always been the internet’s favorite "big sister." She’s funny, she’s transparent, and she’s worked her tail off since she was a literal child. But lately, when people search for keke palmer bf, they aren't just looking for a name. They’re looking for the resolution to one of the messiest, most public breakups in recent Hollywood history—and trying to figure out if she’s actually moved on with a 22-year-old streamer.

Let’s be real. It’s been a wild few years for Lauren (that's her real name, by the way). From the high of becoming a mom to the low of a very public legal battle, she’s lived a lifetime of relationship drama under a microscope.

The Darius Jackson Era: From "Steadman" to Courtrooms

For a while, Darius Jackson seemed like the one. They met at an Insecure after-party in 2021—standard industry meet-cute stuff. He’s the brother of actor Sarunas Jackson, so he understood the fame game without being fully in the spotlight himself. Keke even called him her "closest friend."

Then came the Usher concert.

You remember the tweet. In July 2023, Darius decided to publicly shame the mother of his child for wearing a sheer black outfit while being serenaded by Usher in Las Vegas. "It's the outfit tho.. you a mom," he wrote. The internet, quite predictably, went nuclear.

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Why the Breakup Was So Complicated

Most people think they split right after that tweet. Honestly, it was way stickier. They actually tried to make it work for a few more months, even celebrating Keke’s 30th birthday together in August 2023. But by November, things turned dark. Keke filed for a domestic violence restraining order, alleging physical and verbal abuse that she claimed had been happening for two years.

Security footage leaked. Allegations of "lunging for her neck" and "striking" her became front-page news. Darius fired back with his own claims, calling Keke the "primary aggressor" and citing four instances where he alleged she was abusive, often fueled by alcohol.

It was a classic "he-said, she-said" that played out in legal filings rather than private conversations. By May 2024, however, Keke dropped the restraining order. She told People that they reached a joint custody agreement for their son, Leo, and were focused on co-parenting. She didn't want her son to grow up thinking his father was a "monster."

Who is Keke Palmer Dating in 2026?

Fast forward to January 2026, and the keke palmer bf rumors have shifted entirely. If you’ve been on Twitch or Instagram lately, you’ve seen the name PlaqueBoyMax (Max-Sane Dent-Parris).

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The two recently sent social media into a tailspin during a livestream on January 13, 2026. What started as a standard collab turned into a full-blown "is this a soft launch?" moment. Keke was seen:

• Asking his chat if he was a "nice young man."
• Posting "I'm in love with Keke" from his own X account.
• Sharing an Instagram dump captioned "I think I'm in love" featuring photos of her kissing him on the cheek.

Max is a 22-year-old streamer known for making music live. The age gap—Keke is 32—has some fans raising eyebrows. Some people think it’s just high-level trolling or "content," especially since they introduced each other to their dads on the stream. It’s classic Keke: keeping us guessing while she controls the narrative.

What Most People Get Wrong About Her Dating Life

Keke has been vocal about how fame ruins her relationships. In her memoir, Master of Me, she explained that too many outside voices get into her head. She’s not looking for a superstar. In fact, she’s said she wants a "Steve Urkel" or a "Stedman" type—someone who makes dad jokes and is just... there.

She’s also tired of the "strong Black woman" trope. She’s admitted that she spent a lot of time trying to "save" people in the past. Now, she’s looking for someone who actually has their own life together. Whether PlaqueBoyMax fits that "Stedman" energy or is just a fun New Year’s fling remains to be seen.

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The Reality of Co-Parenting with an Ex

Despite the new rumors, Darius Jackson is still a permanent fixture in her life because of their son, Leodis. They’ve managed to find a "peaceful" middle ground. Darius even enlisted in the military recently, which suggests he's trying to build a career outside of the "industry adjacent" bubble he lived in with Keke.

Keke’s new music, particularly the song "My Confession," lays it all out. She sings about how they were actually broken up before the Usher concert happened, and how he used that moment to play the victim. It’s a masterclass in reclaiming a story that the tabloids tried to write for her.

Actionable Insights for Following Keke's Journey

If you're trying to keep up with who the current keke palmer bf is, you have to look past the headlines.

• Watch the Livestreams: Keke is leaning heavily into creator culture. Her interactions with streamers like PlaqueBoyMax are where she’s most "herself" lately.
• Listen to the Lyrics: Her 2025/2026 music is basically a diary. If you want the truth about her split from Darius, listen to "My Confession" and "Ungorgeous."
• Check the Source: Keke often uses her podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, to address rumors directly. If she hasn't said it there, take the IG "soft launches" with a grain of salt.

The bottom line? Keke is in her "unapologetic" era. Whether she's single, trolling with a streamer, or genuinely in love, she's making sure she's the one holding the pen this time.

To get the full context of how she’s navigating this new chapter, you should check out her memoir Master of Me, which dives deep into the boundaries she had to set to survive the fallout of 2023. Her focus right now appears to be less on finding a "husband" and more on protecting the peace she fought so hard to get back.

Key Relationship Timeline Recap