So, this is the video that’s been buzzing all over social media and has Keke Palmer’s baby daddy, Darius Jackson, seeing red. But what’s really going on here? Is this just a case of a jealous baby daddy? Did Keke cross a line in that video with Usher? Or is Darius starting to show a controlling side?
By now, you’ve probably seen the clip of Usher serenading Keke in Vegas. She was dressed in a black bodysuit with a sheer dress over it. During the performance, she danced with Usher, and they exchanged playful and affectionate glances, showcasing their years-long friendship. Honestly, Keke looked amazing, and she got a lot of love from her fans. But Darius wasn’t having it. He tweeted his disapproval of what Keke wore to Usher’s concert, writing, “It’s the outfit though… oh you a mom.”
You know, at first, a lot of people thought Darius was joking with that tweet, but it turns out he was pretty serious about calling Keke out publicly. After the tweet went viral, he added, “We live in a generation where a man of the family doesn’t want the wife and mother to his kids to showcase booty cheeks to please others and he gets told how much of a hater he is. This is my family and my representation. I have standards and morals to what I believe. I rest my case.”
Um, did he just say “wife”? Because from where I’m sitting, Keke’s ring finger looks pretty lonely—like it’s definitely missing a ring. Or am I missing something here? I rest my case too.
A lot of people were upset with how Darius chose to handle the situation online instead of talking to Keke in private. One person wrote, “Why would you bring this public though? This should be a conversation between the two of you.” Someone else added, “Unless there was a ring on that woman’s finger, you don’t have a place, man. And even if y’all were married, it’s not cool to publicly shame the mother of your child for her outfit choice. Possessiveness doesn’t usually go well in relationships, especially when you’re with someone as famous as Keke. Better grow thicker skin.”
In the video, you can clearly see Keke wrapping her arms around Usher’s neck, while his hand rests on her lower back. This sparked some speculation among fans that Darius might have been more bothered by their interaction than Keke’s outfit. And let’s talk about the double standard here, because wasn’t Darius the same guy who proudly shared a post of Keke flaunting her toned figure in a cheetah bodysuit, captioning it “My son done transformed @Keke”?
Meanwhile, Keke brushed off the comments and shared another sultry photo on Instagram, expressing regret for not taking more pictures but gushing about Usher’s performance. “I wish I had captured more moments, but we were running late. Let me tell you, if you haven’t seen @Usher, you’re missing out. He was absolutely fabulous, owning the stage at Theater Atlanta, sharing tips and tricks, just being iconic. As a performer, I was truly inspired.”
Honestly, this whole relationship has seemed odd to some of us from the get-go. At first, Keke and Darius seemed to be keeping their relationship on the down-low, but when Keke appeared on the Tamron Hall Show, she clarified that it wasn’t a secret. “It just became harder to hide, you know? We spend so much time together, and he’s truly my closest confidant. So, why hide something that brings me joy? It is what it is. It won’t be on display for everyone, because my career is my career. But ultimately, this is someone significant to me, so why not share? I’m all for it.”
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Keke and Darius, you might have noticed something big happened back in March 2022 – they went on a social media deleting spree. It was quite the scene, especially when Keke dropped a cryptic tweet implying Darius had done her wrong, saying, “You gotta be tough to date an Aquarius.” Meanwhile, Darius took to Instagram with some deep musings about growth, accountability, and all that jazz.
But hold onto your hats, because despite the drama, it seems love prevailed. Fast forward to Keke’s big moment hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time, and she had a surprise up her sleeve – or rather, under her jacket. After teasing about online gossip, she proudly revealed her baby bump to the world, declaring, “Yep, the rumors were true! It’s scary how accurate they can be. But hey, I’m over the moon about becoming a mom!”
Yet, amidst all the excitement, there was some shade being thrown Darius’s way too. Some folks couldn’t resist pointing out that while he talked a big game about being the head of the household, Keke was the one bringing home the bacon. Rumors even flew about him being home while Keke allegedly spent time with Usher. And then there were whispers questioning his masculinity because of how he acted – like that time he defended not texting his girl all day because they were together anyway.
Darius has found himself in hot water for a few questionable incidents lately. For starters, there was that retweet of “What if we are both red flags?” Then, he posted a joke about his wife being the breadwinner while he flaunted basketball jerseys. But the real drama started when his ex-girlfriend, Taylor Marie, called him out for being insensitive. Apparently, he pressured her into terminating their pregnancy just three weeks before he went public with his relationship with Keke. Taylor aired her grievances on TikTok, initially naming Keke, but later edited the post to keep things anonymous.
People didn’t hold back in criticizing Darius. Many accused him of using Keke for his own benefit and lacking decency towards his ex. And let’s not forget the tweet he liked that was poking fun at Tracee Ellis Ross’s age — that didn’t sit well with anyone.
The backlash didn’t stop there. Folks continued to slam Darius, especially for his treatment of Keke. Some argued that he should have dealt with his issues privately instead of dragging Keke into it publicly. Others took aim at his financial situation, questioning his role as the “man of the family” when Keke’s bank account far outweighed his.
Certainly, there were folks who came to Darius’s defense amidst all the uproar. One person, in response to the backlash, argued, “Your bank balance doesn’t define your role in a relationship. No matter how well-off she may be, she still appreciates it when he picks up the tab. While calling her out publicly wasn’t the best move, he does have the right to voice his feelings. They’re supposed to be partners, right?” It’s possible there are deeper issues between Darius and Keke for him to air their dirty laundry like that. It’s particularly concerning, given that just the other day, Keke was expressing admiration for single parents, acknowledging the importance of a supportive community.
I really hope this isn’t the end of their fairytale romance. Darius’s public shaming of Keke doesn’t paint a pretty picture for their relationship. But true to form, Keke seems unperturbed, as evidenced by her recent posts, signaling she won’t tolerate disrespect, not even from her child’s father. The future of their relationship remains up in the air, but it’s definitely a story worth keeping tabs on.
As for Darius’s public call-out of Keke, was his tweet more cringe-worthy than her outfit? And are they even still together? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
