Keke Palmer Admits She Was 'Really Naive' In Unhealthy Darius Jackson Relationship

Keke Palmer is finally addressing her tumultuous relationship with her ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson!

Palmer and Jackson's relationship played out in an ugly way earlier this month when she filed for sole custody of their son and got a temporary restraining order against him on the basis of domestic violence.

Now, the "True Jackson VP" alum is speaking up, admitting the alleged abusive relationship was a "rude awakening" for her.

The talented star bared her heart out in the latest episode of her podcast, "Baby, This Is Keke Palmer" featuring her mother Sharon Palmer and therapist Dr Drew Pinksy.

Palmer began the episode titled "How to Deal with Abusive Relationships, Boundaries, and Narcissism," chatting with her mother about how her parents' healthy marriage fooled her into thinking that's how every relationship would be regardless of the compatibility of the partners.

"I think I've been really naive because my dad is great and my uncles are great," she explained. "So misogyny came at me hard and quick, with the quickness. I grew up in a house where my mom would say, 'This is what it needs to be.' And Larry [her dad] would be like, 'Okay, Sharon. Go on ahead, Sharon."

However, that wasn't the case when she ventured into a relationship of her own. "So, for me, when I entered outside of my household and I saw that everybody doesn't really respect their wives or even women in the way that my dad respects my mom, it was a pretty rude awakening," the 30-year-old revealed.

Palmer then proceeded to discuss with Dr Pinsky topics like narcissism, gaslighting, and establishing boundaries, before confessing that she had a "boundary problem."

The "Nope" actress, who has since broken up with Jackson, stated that she chose happiness over anything traumatic that might have happened during the relationship. "At that point, it was just like, I choose happiness and I choose joy, and I don't choose to go back there," she declared. "And like you said, as time goes on, I'm like, I'm good. Whatever that was, I'm good."

Recall that in early November, Palmer shocked fans when she filed a domestic violence restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, accusing him of physically, verbally, and emotionally abusing her.

In the court documents we obtained, the former Nickelodeon child star accused her former personal training ex of "striking her" and "throwing her over a couch," adding that there were "many instances of physical violence, including striking and grabbing me around the neck."

In the filing Palmer alleged that Jackson destroyed her "personal property, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses, throwing my belongings into the street, throwing my car keys to prevent me from driving away, hitting me in front of our son, spewing profanities about me to our son, threatening to kill himself with a gun if I left him, harassment, and other physical and emotional abuse."

She documented several instances of the abuses including a time when he allegedly trespassed into her home and attacked her when she tried to call authorities.

"On Sunday, November 5, Darius trespassed into my home, physically attacked me, knocked me over my couch and pinned me down, and stole my phone after I threatened to call the police.  The police were called and arrived before Darius left. After interviewing me, my sister, and Darius, they made him leave and warned him not to come back. They also encouraged me to file for a domestic violence restraining order," she wrote.

The Emmy Award winner alleged the abuse almost extended to their 8-month-old son, Leo. "On September 26, 2023, I was concerned for Leo’s safety after Darius became very frustrated with him when Leo was crying while Darius changed his diaper. Darius started getting rough with Leo physically and I stepped in to make sure Darius would not hurt him," Palmer recalled.

She continued, "Darius was angry and it almost became a tug of war with Leo. 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."

Palmer explained that her son was the reason she decided to seek help, writing, "It is because of our son, Leo, that I was finally able to end my relationship with Darius once and for all and escape the abuse. Leo is the most important thing in the entire world to me; he needs and deserves to be safe and grow up in an environment free from violence."

Palmer was granted a temporary restraining order against Jackson and also granted temporary sole custody of their kid until a December 5 hearing. The "Hustlers" star has since been living her life even hosting the 2023 Soul Train Awards over the weekend.