According to a person with knowledge of the relationship, Keke Palmer was taken aback to learn that she had been given exclusive custody of their 8-month-old son Leodis and a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson.
In Los Angeles on Thursday, the 30-year-old Nope actress requested a restraining order against the 29-year-old Jackson. Palmer detailed other claims of physical abuse in the declaration, which PEOPLE read, and requested the court for full physical and legal custody of Leodis.
The source, who says that Jackson and Palmer seemed to be getting along well in public late last month at an event in Los Angeles for her streaming network KeyTV, calls this “a big surprise.” Everyone could see the baby. Darius went to help her, and everyone was praising her.
The source does concede that there had previously been problems in their relationship. The insider claimed that the couple had overcome difficult circumstances together over the years. They are said to have first met in 2021 while attending a Memorial Day celebration that Issa Rae and Diddy were hosting.
The insider alludes to the public drama that transpired in July after Palmer attended Usher’s Vegas residency and was serenaded by the impending Super Bowl Halftime performer, saying, “There was at least one breakup, before the Vegas incident.”
Using a screenshot of Palmer dancing with Usher from a tweet, Jackson publicly criticized Palmer for her attire at the time, stating, “It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom.”
“I don’t think the Vegas incident caused all of this,” the person said. Although there had been issues previously, I believe this was the beginning of the end.
When PEOPLE asked Palmer and Jackson’s representatives for comments, they did not reply.
Following Jackson’s humiliating post, Palmer’s supporters rallied quickly. Palmer seemed to make light of the event by joining Usher in the music video for his song “Boyfriend,” even though the two never addressed the issue in detail. She posted a video of herself hanging out with Jackson on her 30th birthday shortly after that.
According to the insider, “there was some genuine love there,” and “everything was really good around Leo’s birth.”
Palmer said to PEOPLE in September that she had to concentrate harder on maintaining her privacy.
“I’m having my own personal boundaries for what I feel like I want out there,” she stated, “or what I want to give people the opportunity to speak on,” she continued.
A Los Angeles County judge ruled this week that Jackson must maintain a minimum of 100 yards between himself and the actress, their kid, and any daycare or schooling that has been set up for the youngster in response to Palmer’s emergency declaration.
Documents acquired by PEOPLE show that Jackson is not permitted to have visitation with his kid, and that Palmer has been granted temporary sole physical and legal custody of Leo. A hearing to decide the next steps regarding this arrangement is scheduled on December 5.
