Keke Palmer’s later account differs from the public timeline many people first saw: in her May 2025 song “My Confession,” she said her relationship with Darius Jackson had ended before the July 2023 Usher concert that became a public flashpoint. In a November 2023 court filing, however, Palmer described the relationship as ending in October. Those accounts should be kept distinct; the exact breakup date has not been established by the available reporting.
What Palmer has said about when the relationship ended
Palmer’s song “My Confession,” released in May 2025, looks back on the relationship and says the breakup preceded her appearance at Usher’s Las Vegas residency in July 2023. E! News reported on the song’s account: “Keke Palmer Seemingly Slams Ex Darius Jackson in New Song About Their Breakup”.
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That retrospective account does not match every date reported at the time. Entertainment coverage described a breakup around August 2023, and Palmer’s November court filing said the relationship had ended in October. The two were also seen together after some breakup reports, which left their status publicly uncertain. These dates reflect different reports and statements, not a single confirmed chronology.
Why the Usher concert became a public flashpoint
During Usher’s July 2023 Las Vegas residency, Palmer joined him during audience interaction while wearing a sheer dress over a bodysuit. Jackson criticized her outfit in a public post, writing, “It’s the outfit tho.. you a mom.” The remark drew attention to their relationship and helped make the concert a defining public moment in coverage of the breakup.
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Palmer’s later account in “My Confession” places the end of the relationship before that concert. The public reaction to the outfit therefore should not be treated as proof of when the relationship ended.
What Palmer alleged in her 2023 court filing
In November 2023, Palmer sought a temporary restraining order and custody relief. In the filing, she alleged that Jackson had physically and emotionally abused her during their relationship. Those are allegations made by Palmer in court documents; they should not be presented as adjudicated findings. Entertainment Tonight reported on the filing and the temporary orders that followed: “Keke Palmer Granted Temporary Restraining Order Against Darius Jackson: A Timeline of Their Relationship”.
What was reported about the legal outcome
The Los Angeles Times reported in May 2024 that Palmer dropped her request for a restraining order and for sole custody. TheGrio later reported that the pair reached a joint custody agreement in 2024. The precise current order and its terms have not been established in the reporting cited here, so those reports do not support a claim about the arrangement in force today.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Palmer described the aftermath
In a June 20, 2025 Associated Press interview, Palmer described the emotional fallout of the public breakup: “It was tough … I didn’t even realize I was in such grief.” She said her album Just Keke gave her a way to address the experience through her work. “That’s what artistry is … mine is about transmutation, it’s about bringing closure,” she told the AP. Read the interview: “‘Just Keke’ brings closure to Keke Palmer’s public relationship drama”.
Palmer has also discussed relationships and her personal history in her memoir, Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative. In a November 2024 Los Angeles Times interview, she spoke about the memoir and her relationship with Jackson: “Keke Palmer on her revealing memoir and relationship with Darius Jackson”. The memoir is her perspective, rather than an independent finding about disputed events.
At a Tribeca Festival conversation reported by TheGrio on June 10, 2026, Palmer said she was more open to love, while no longer allowing romantic love to define her. TheGrio reported her reflection: “‘I’m more open to love’: Keke Palmer reflects on life after Darius Jackson”.
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Relationship timeline: what the reporting establishes
- June 2021: Palmer and Jackson began dating, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- February 2023: They welcomed their son, Leodis, known as Leo.
- July 2023: Palmer attended Usher’s Las Vegas residency; Jackson’s public criticism of her outfit became a major flashpoint.
- August–October 2023: Breakup reports surfaced, but the pair appeared together afterward. Palmer’s November filing said the relationship ended in October; her 2025 song said it ended before the July concert.
- November 2023: Palmer sought a temporary restraining order and custody relief, making abuse allegations in her filing. Temporary orders were reported after the filing.
- May 2024: The Los Angeles Times reported that Palmer dropped her restraining-order and sole-custody requests. TheGrio later reported a joint custody agreement in 2024.
- November 2024–June 2026: Palmer spoke publicly about her memoir, the breakup’s emotional impact, her music, and her outlook on love.
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