Keke Palmer has spent most of her life in the public eye, from starring in 2006’s Akeelah and the Bee to, more recently, killing her performance in Jordan Peele’s Nope. In late 2022, she announced the exciting news of her pregnancy while hosting Saturday Night Live, and has since gone on to welcome her baby boy with boyfriend Darius Jackson. While some famous faces opt to stay offline in the months after going through such a major life change, the actress has continued to let her personality shine through on her various profiles while chronicling her journey into parenthood.
Earlier this month, the 29-year-old posted an emotional video on Instagram, during which she took a moment to praise any single people raising children by themselves. Even with the help of her partner and other loved ones, Palmer says that she’s been getting “cooked” in the time since she gave birth to Leodis Andrellton. Thankfully, she seems to have a strong support system keeping her sane amidst all the chaos.
“I just want anybody out there that’s a single parent that’s been doing this – friends of mine, people that I don’t know, family members of mine – it brings tears to my eyes. I am just truly, profoundly impressed,” the former Disney star vented to viewers. “It truly does take a village… Sometimes that’s a privilege,” she additionally acknowledged. Many fans praised Palmer in the comments, thanking her for being so honest through the ups and downs of rearing her child.
In the time since then, the Illinois native appears to be comfortably settling into her life at home with Darius and baby Leo. On Thursday (March 9), she updated fans on her family via Twitter with some heartwarming selfies of them sporting matching pyjamas. While Palmer perfectly twins with her son in what appears to be a moon-print onesie, her boyfriend wears pyjama pants in the same pattern with a light blue t-shirt.
“Thank you @zennioptical for the lewks,” the new mother wrote along with her photo dump. In one of the snapshots, Jackson plants a kiss on Palmer’s head as their son peacefully sleeps on his chest. Though some first expressed their disappointment in Leodis’ unique name, they seem to be warming up to the young boy, who got plenty of compliments on social media.
One person wrote, “Good looks run in the family,” while another added, “Omg, Akeelah now has a little bee.” Elsewhere, trolls poked fun at Darius’ proud dad energy, asking, “Lol… Why is he carrying the child like he’s the one who gave birth?” See Keke Palmer’s cute photos for yourself above, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
Keke Palmer, 29, the triple threat can now add mom to her many roles, as her acting and singing have already made her a standout both in life and on screen. Making her debut in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Palmer quickly became likable from her honest and kind demeanor, making her a favored co-star to want to be around.
Keke Palmer Debuted As An Actress And Singer
Making a transition to television in the same year of her movie debut, Palmer ultimately went on to star in multiple Nickelodeon series like True Jackson, VP and Winx Club. When she displayed how raw her skill was at such a young age, Palmer continued to succeed in the industry with more serious roles that would later catapult her into the respected actress she is today. Starring in films like Akeelah and the Bee, Madea’s Family Reunion, Jump In!, and The Longshots, Palmer has spent most of her life in the film world.
When her adult life came around, so did the adult roles. No age could define Palmer on screen, as her ability has transcended into one of the greats. Taking on roles next to Tyler Perry, Queen Latifah, Whoopie Goldberg, Julia Stiles and Ice Cube, Palmer was able to gain versatile parts in films like Alice, Hustlers, and Nope. Palmer has also been a voice over actress in films like Lightyear, Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare, and multiple movies from the Ice Age franchise. Displaying even more skill, Palmer has taken her career a step further into the musical world with a 2014 role as the first African American Princess to star in a title role as Cinderella on Broadway. With Rolling Stonescalling her assertive and confident with a “biting sense of humor,” Palmer stays contributing her love for acting in every role she is given.
Palmer Explains Her Love for Her Career
Keke Palmer interviews for Bustle wearing a Gucci gown and Cosabella bra.
In an effortless steez, Palmer epitomizes true passion behind the screen saying, “I can’t even tell anyone how it feels when I’m acting, I don’t mean to say that I don’t have to try. But there’s something in my heart that explodes, and I feel like I understand. When I’m acting, I feel like so in control and so centered. This is something that I solely get from acting and music.”
Not only has Palmer paved her own way as an actress, but she has also grounded herself as a singer and songwriter. Her 2007 debut album So Uncool charted on Billboard’s Top R&B & HipHop Albums list and was released under her contract with Atlantic Records. Palmer explains her love for music with, “Whether it be in acting, music, or even in dancing, I only want to do things that I truly connect to, and with my music, it’s everything that I am.” Though she’s now signed to Island Records, Palmer has released albums Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1, and Virgo Tendencies, Pr. 2 along with multiple singles over the course of the previous years.
Palmer Meets Longtime Boyfriend at Diddy’s Memorial Day Party in 2021
Keke Palmer shares her and boyfriend Darius Jackson’s first experiences with son Leo.
Palmer started dating boyfriend, Darius Jackson, 29, after meeting at Rae and Diddy’s Memorial Day Party in 2021. Keeping their relationship private for only a few months, the couple have remained close since their first encounter. Telling Bustle in an interview, Palmer says, “This is the happiest I’ve ever felt with someone. So why would I go out of my way to hide this person? That’s a lot more work than just living in my life and being in my life. You know what I’m saying?”
Being in the entertainment industry as well, Jackson is both an actor and fitness trainer. Attending Fresno State University on a football scholarship, Jackson continued in the footsteps of his older brother Saranus Jackson who played sports before launching his acting career in 2017 in the series Insecure. Though he hasn’t much acting fame, Jackson can be linked to the upcoming sci-fi film Dawn of the Predator as Agent Mayo. In the film, a group of agents are deployed to a robot-controlled territory, and upon their attempt to retrieve technology from an alien crash, they are faced with war against the aliens.
Though acting and singing may have been the prevalence of Palmer’s whole life, her newest role as ‘mom’ may be her most important one yet. Palmer gave birth on February 25, 2023 to a healthy baby boy, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. Though it’s a first time being a parent for Palmer, she stays happily grateful for her experience, taking to social media to say, “”Hey Son!!!! Born during Black History Month, with a name to match! LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo.”
Keke Palmer Has Ideas for the Future of Her Career
Keke Palmer gets candidly cheeky about how to solve Bustle’s interview questions.
Though Palmer is most focused on being a new mom with her longtime boyfriend, Jackson, she still has her eyes set on new horizons after earning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show Host for her appearance alongside Michael Strahan on Strahan, Sara, and Keke from 2019-2020. Palmer told Bustle she envisions herself giving back to her community in the near future by interning a plethora of young black adults for the directing and producing of filmssaying, “I imagine myself directing movies and producing films and having a bunch of different interns that are just in college.”
Continuing, “Young, black kids that are learning how to be a grip, that are learning how to be a DP, that are learning how to work in production, or as a designer, or people that are learning how to be a teamster, I really want to educate the young kids on the fact that you don’t just have to work in Hollywood as a performer, or as a writer, or as a director — your ass could be a crafty.”
With 20 years in the industry, Palmer has exhibited the essence of a true star. In following her own advice, “You can do anything as long as you don’t stop believing. When it is meant to be, it will be. You just have to follow your heart,” Palmer continues to thrive as a new mom still wanting to work, as her love for acting and singing is endless.
Keke Palmer and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson, has welcomed a new baby boy, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. Hitting Instagram, Palmer shared images of the couple and the precious moments with their child.
Included in the baby reveal, Palmer shared sweet updates about their union:
Only 48hrs of being parents!
Darius always made me playlists when we first started dating, “Someone” by El Debarge was a favorite. We became each other’s someone and made a someone, look at God!
The baby love Rolling Ray, cause purrr.
“I’m not hiding the world from my son, I’m hiding my son from the world.” Hahaha
I’m just playing, my baby face is on this slide.
And this slide 🥹
Born during Black History Month, with a name to match !
LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo.
Keke Palmer just gave birth to her first child, and welcomed her baby boy alongside his father, boyfriend Darius Jackson. Of course, since the reveal of her pregnancy, fans have been ecstatic to see Palmer experience the joy of motherhood. Moreover, she also made the announcement in quite a grandiose and public manner. Not many other celebrities would include a pregnancy reveal in their opening host monologue for Saturday Night Live. Then again, Keke’s not like other celebrities. In her announcement post, she reflected on the first 48 hours of being Leodis Andrellton Jackson.
“Hey Son!!!!” she began her post. Furthermore, each “section” of her caption corresponds to a picture in her Instagram slideshow. “Only 48hrs of being parents!” she wrote about a picture of the couple looking frazzled. “Darius always made me playlists when we first started dating. ‘Someone’ by El Debarge was a favorite. We became each other’s someone and made a someone, look at God!” she attributed to a video of them singing along. “The baby love Rolling Ray, cause purrr,” she captioned a video of the family watching the viral sensation.
“’I’m not hiding the world from my son, I’m hiding my son from the world.’ Hahaha,” she wrote on a picture of the two with Leodis’ face concealed. Of course, that’s a dig at Drake’s infamous lines on the track “Emotionless” about his then-exposed son. “I’m just playing, my baby face is on this slide. And this slide,” she wrote for the last two pictures, which are in fact of the beautiful baby boy. “Born during Black History Month, with a name to match!” she concluded. “LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo.”
Back when she originally made the pregnancy announcement, Palmer spoke to her excitement, love, and gratitude. “This year has taken me for a ride!” she wrote on Instagram. “And how cool, my baby and I are already doing it all together. Thank you God! Thank you to my amazing parents and family who continuously support me… thank you to my other half [Darius] for giving me the things that only true unity can bring. Love is all we have isn’t it, you do nothing in this world alone and trust me, I am not alone! Very grateful… Happy Holidays!” Congrats to Keke and Darius on their joyous gift, and come back to HNHH for the latest on Keke Palmer.
Celebrity babies are coming in numbers lately, with droves of our favourite artists and actors expanding their families regularly. One of the most recent pregnancy announcements to come from Hollywood was during Keke Palmer’s hosting stint on Saturday Night Live. Last month, she confirmed to the world that she and her boyfriend, Darius Jackson, are expecting their first child together.
Spilling the tea on late-night television seems to be a favourite activity for the Disney Channel alum. After unveiling her bump to the SNL audience, Palmer joined Jimmy Fallon on his talk show last week. During their chat, the 29-year-old casually let it slip that she’s expecting a boy.
Darius Daulton Jackson and Keke Palmer attend the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic Los Angeles at Will Rogers State Historic Park on October 02, 2021 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images)
Over the weekend, fans’ excitement has only grown stronger as the expecting mother shared adorable photos from her fairytale-themed baby shower on social media. “‘A long time ago, in a land not so far… The King and Queen got together to play,’” she wrote in the caption of her photo dump late on Saturday (January 28) night.
“‘The play turned to love as many sunsets passed by. Now there’s a prince, who’s soon to arrive!’” her sweet poem ends. In the accompanying pictures, Palmer looks as glamorous as ever in a ribbed brown dress as she hugs her bump.
The first three images are solo snapshots of mama in her third trimester. In the last few photos, Jackson joins his partner in a coordinated brown outfit.
In the comment section, countless celebrity friends are sending kind wishes to the Hustlers star in this exciting time. “The absolute prettiest,” SZA wrote. Casse, Chloe Bailey, Stefflon Don, and La La Anthony also had compliments to give.
As blog posts surfacing online point out, the event wasn’t anything short of lit. Palmer’s due date is quickly approaching. Still, she didn’t hesitate to drop it low and keep the crowd laughing with her usual comedic antics.
Before they celebrated their baby boy at his shower this weekend, Palmer made sure to show some love to Jackson on his birthday earlier this month. For the most part, they’ve kept their romance low-key, but as her due date approaches, the actress has been sharing more of their love with the world.
Read her heartwarming message to the expecting father here, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
For most pop culture lovers in their 20s, Keke Palmer is a famous face that grew up alongside us. From 2006’s Akeelah and the Bee and her time on True Jackson, VP to more recent roles in projects like Hustlers and Nope, the Illinois native’s strong work ethic has always been obvious.
After an impressive run in Lightyear, Alice, and Jordan Peele’s latest film last year, the 29-year-old is taking some time to focus on her personal life. Specifically, she and her boyfriend Darius Jackson are welcoming their first child together in a few months.
Palmer broke the news to the world while hosting Saturday Night Live late last year. Prior to that, the rumour mill was rapidly turning online. At the time, social media sleuths seemingly spotted a budding bump beneath the actress’s designer dress.
Seeing as she’s kept her romantic relationship relatively low profile, many were quick to question who the fashionista’s baby daddy is. We know that he works in the fitness industry. Additionally, the two were together for over a year before Palmer became pregnant.
Today (January 21), Jackson is celebrating his birthday. His partner didn’t hesitate to post a sweet video to commemorate the special occasion. “I can easily write long emotional posts for all my girl’s birthdays, but it’s so cringy writing a birthday post for you,” she joked in her caption.
Palmer went on, “Because the love is so scared. It almost feels asinine to try to share or give a glimpse into something that we could understand. I can share most things so easily, but not you.”
“Happy Birthday to the best Aquarius, Darius, my guy!” she concluded. “Let’s go Birds!”
As the soon-to-be father celebrates his special day, Palmer revealed on the Las Culturistas podcast that she’s feeling “good” in the midst of her third trimester. “I think that my baby is like a warrior or something like that. Because I’ve been good, y’all,” she gushed.
“I’ve had no nausea — like I’ve had moments where I’m like [gagging], where I’ll just be sitting there and it’ll make me feel that way. But I won’t actually throw up, I won’t actually run to the bathroom.”
Keke Palmer attends the 2023 New York Film Critics Circle Awards at TAO Downtown on January 04, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
In other news, Keke Palmer recently thanked Nicki Minaj for assisting her with her iconic maternity photoshoot. Read more about that here, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! While our favourite celebrities are usually too busy to share the intimate details of their lives, the holidays are when many soften up and offer a glimpse into their lavishly decorated homes. The Kardashian family put on an undeniably exuberant display, but other stars like Keke Palmer are keeping things more casual this year.
While hosting Saturday Night Live earlier this month, the Disney Channel alum made a huge announcement. During her opening monologue, she was surprisingly honest with the crowd. “There’s some rumours going around, people have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant,’ and I wanna set the record straight — I am,” she said.
Immediately, Palmer’s fans reacted in excitement. However, many of them were unaware that she was even in a relationship and wanted to know who her baby’s daddy is.
Presently, the actress is dating Darius Jackson. They’ve been together since the summer of 2021, and though their public comments about each other are few and far between, they’re notably always positive. “I’m glad we were able to help each other throughout our lowest of times,” her man previously wrote on Instagram.
“This is the happiest I’ve ever felt with someone,” Palmer said of the soon-to-be parent’s relationship earlier this year.
@dvulton/Instagram Stories
On Christmas Eve (December 24), Jackson put a Boomerang on his Instagram Story. In the clip, he kisses the 29-year-old’s pregnant belly. “Mom n Dad,” he wrote above the footage.
For her part, Palmer posted a hilarious IG Reel of her reciting Leora Byrd’s spirited pregnancy monologue. Her baby bump is on full display for followers as she recites along in perfect unison.
“No this sound was meant for you to do it,” Ryan Destiny joked in the comments. “I knew when you ducked down to get into character this was gone be good,” someone else joked.
Check it out in the video below, and check back later for more pop culture news updates.
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