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Usher wasn’t the reason Keke Palmer ended her relationship. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the 31-year-old actress and author of Master of Me shares her experience attending Usher's concert last year and the fallout with her ex, Darius Jackson.
Palmer and Jackson welcomed their son Leo in early 2023, appearing as a happy family, but, as she reveals, “there was a lot going on” behind the scenes. In July, Jackson publicly criticized Palmer’s outfit choice from the concert, writing, “It’s the outfit tho... you a mom.” This comment, directed at a video of Palmer in a sheer dress dancing with Usher, sparked an online backlash in Palmer’s defense.
Seeing the commotion, Palmer says she was initially “speechless.” She recalls, “I was at a photo shoot, and everyone was acting strange. Then I checked my phone and saw what was happening. It was so surreal—I didn’t want to add fuel to a situation that wasn’t even real.”
Reflecting on the incident, Palmer explains, “I was just having fun at a concert. How people turned it into a romance story with Usher, I don’t understand.” To play off the rumors, Palmer released a playful song and music video called “Boyfriend” with Usher, stating, “Things are rarely as they seem.”
Addressing the end of her relationship with Jackson, Palmer cites the pressures of new parenthood and the impact of fame, which intensified their struggles, leading to a public breakup, custody battle, and allegations of domestic violence.
“Fame has always been a burden, not just in romantic relationships but also with family and friends,” Palmer says. She adds, “People think I have a glamorous life, but really, I’m just a regular mom going out to have fun. I can’t control people’s perceptions, only how I show up.”
