Amid Allegations of Domestic Violence, Keke Palmer Doesn’t Owe You an Explanation About Her Life

Keke Palmer began her career as a child actor on Nickelodeon and in films like Akeelah and the Bee and Madea’s Family Reunion. She’s been famous for most of her life and has marked several notable milestones in the public eye. She’s very active on social media, which offers a special connection with her fans, but also creates the false idea that we know what her life is. That illusion was shattered on Tuesday when the actress filed a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, Darius Jackson, accusing him of domestic violence. In court documents obtained by USA Today, she filed for a temporary restraining order and a request for a domestic violence restraining order. Palmer and Jackson share 8-month-old son Leodis.

The Nope star alleged that he was “unhinged, volatile and dangerous to both me and our son.” In the documents Keke also states that in the two years they were together, he “abused her ‘multiple times.’” The singer/actress offered stills from security footage as evidence and also alleged she suffered “multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse.”

Before all the inevitable judgment starts, everyone needs to remember that Keke Palmer isn’t just a character in a movie or TV show. She’s a real person who doesn’t owe you an explanation about her life. Just because you follow her on Instagram doesn’t mean you actually know her or her experiences.

In the documents, the Alice actress detailed an alleged incident on Sunday where Jackson “trespassed into my home without my knowledge or consent, threatened me, then physically attacked me—lunging for my neck, striking me, throwing me over the couch, and stealing my phone when I told him I was going to call the police.” Once the police arrived, they interviewed Palmer, Jackson, her sister, who was upstairs in the house, and her mother, who was on the phone with her daughter at the time. The police are the ones who recommended she seek the restraining orders.

She also revealed that she’s “very concerned” for her son Leo, because abuse has taken place in his presence. She noted the “lack of restraint Darius has already exhibited regarding his temper in front of our son.”

Keke’s relationship with Darius made headlines in July when he used social media to publicly shame her for wearing a sexy outfit while attending Usher’s Vegas show. The two artists appeared on stage together as he sang to her—something he does with multiple celebrities at every show.

While everyone had hot takes on the situation, his attempt to publicly embarrass her sent up red flags for women. Amid the jokes and name calling, there were some women who had concerns about this type of controlling behavior. Since the incident, their relationship has been the subject of a lot of “are they still together” conversations. In light of these allegations, all that speculation seems very unimportant.

Keke “requested no contact from Jackson and for him to stay at least 100 yards away…granted [no] visitation rights, nor does she ask for child support.” She also doesn’t want him “publicly commenting about me, my family, and/or our son online.” In the end, it was her son that gave Palmer the strength to walk away from Jackson.

“It is because of our son, Leo, that I was finally able to end my relationship with Darius onceand for all and escape the abuse,” Palmer wrote in a declaration. “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.”

Since Palmer is so popular and well-known this news will lead to all kinds of hot takes on relationships, fame and domestic violence. However, it’s essential that everyone remember she’s been through a harrowing ordeal, so now is the time to extend grace while she and her son recover in peace.