'Insecure' actress DomiNque Perry accuses Darius Jackson's brother Sarunas of abuse
"Insecure" actress DomiNque Perry is accusing her former co-star and child's father, Sarunas Jackson, of "mental and physical abuse."
Perry, 35, alleges that she "experienced emotional volatility, intimidation, bullying, undeserved stress, mental and physical abuse, controlling and narcissistic behavior, all over the past 5 plus years from Sarunas and his family," in a petition filed in California Superior Court on Tuesday obtained by USA TODAY.
The former co-stars share a 5-year-old daughter, Zen Jackson.
Sarunas Jackson, 33, is the older brother of Darius Jackson, who shares a son with Keke Palmer. The "Nope" actress accused Darius Jackson of domestic violence and filed a temporary restraining order request against him earlier this month.
The reply declaration to Sarunas Jackson on Tuesday follows Perry's petition to determine parental relationship on Sept. 21. Jackson opposed the petition in a Nov. 16 "motion to quash."
USA TODAY has reached out to reps for Perry and Jackson for comment.
In the reply declaration to Jackson's "motion to quash" the original petition, Perry claims she was "bullied" by Jackson's family. "I was regularly bullied and intimidated (brother Daruis (sic) admitted and confirmed). I was always nervous because I felt that I wasn't ever good enough" for the Jackson family, Perry writes in the filing.
Perry also details further issues in the course of co-parenting with Jackson, alleging he blamed her "for our daughter being on the Autism Spectrum" and that, during a visit to Perry's home in March 2020, a heated exchange became physical.
"Sarunas got heated in the conversation and began to repeatedly call me stupid," she alleges. "I then said to him, 'you talk to your mother like that not me' at that point he became more angry and grabbed me by the throat and started choking me.
"I was in such shock and disbelief," the "American Hero" actress writes, adding that Jackson did not let go until their daughter came over and began to cry.
"That's when Sarunas let my neck go and kneel(ed) down to Zen," she claims. "He was so angry that he had blood coming from his mouth where he bit his tongue."
Perry alleges another incident where she says she saw markings from an altercation between Jackson and his mother.
"A few weeks later he showed up to my residence with scratches all over his neck and face. I asked what happened and he stated 'he cornered his mom and they were fighting,'" she said. "The choking on his behalf is the norm. He is violent with women."
Jackson refuted any claims of abuse made by the actress in his Nov. 16 declaration.
"It is unclear where Respondent's allegations of emotional volatility and intimidation are coming from," his filing reads. "My family and I have always welcomed Respondent with open arms, inviting her to family events and showing her love and support in more ways than one. In return, Respondent has defamed my character to others, making them believe I am an absent father."
Jackson starred as Alejandro "Dro" Peña in Season 2 of "Insecure" while Perry starred as Tasha in Season 1. Jackson currently stars as Isaac Hall in the Freeform dramedy "Good Trouble."
Keke Palmer abuse accusation against Darius Jackson prompts family response
On Nov. 9, Keke Palmer, 30, was granted a temporary restraining order against Darius Jackson, 29, after she alleged in court documents that he repeatedly abused her during their two-year relationship. The order will be effective until a court hearing scheduled for early December, according to a court filing obtained by USA TODAY.
In separate documents, Palmer requested legal and physical custody of her and Jackson's 8-month-old son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson. Palmer claimed Jackson has been "unhinged, volatile and dangerous to both me and our son," in her request for a domestic violence restraining order.
Keke Palmer'sKeke Palmer's mother claims abuse has been going on 'over a year'
In an Instagram video posted to her unverified, now-private account, which USA TODAY has confirmed belongs to the Palmer's mother, Sharon Palmer called out Sarunas Jackson, who defended his brother Darius in a since-deleted tweet.
"I've never done anything like this. I've been in this business for 22 years, I've seen a lot of stuff. But this is– I can't help myself," she said. "For Sarunas Jackson to post on his Twitter the ridiculous stuff that he's posted. He knew his brother was abusive."
Sarunas Jackson wrote in a post on Nov. 9: "The most disgusting, vile, abusive, manipulative person I have EVER encountered in my entire life. Abuses almost everyone. Y'all will see..just send positive energy to the babies..any child in the middle of something like this doesn't deserve it AT ALL. Wow. So damn sad."
Sharon Palmer alleged she contacted Sarunas Jackson "over a year ago" about his brother Darius' alleged abuse.
"I went to Sarunas over a year ago and told him that his brother was abusive to my daughter," she said. "And he said, 'Well, I used to be like that too.' What? So now he's posting on Twitter like he's this special guy.
"He's disrespectful to women, just like his little brother. He taught his brother how to be abusive," she continued. "You're part of the problem."
Contributing: KiMi Robinson
If you are a victim of domestic violence, TheNational Domestic Violence Hotline (thehotline.org) allows you to speak confidentially with trained advocates online or by the phone, which they recommend for those who think their online activity is being monitored by their abuser (800-799-7233). They can help survivors develop a plan to achieve safety for themselves and their children.Safe Horizon's hotline (safehorizon.org) offers crisis counseling, safety planning, and assistance finding shelters (800-621-HOPE (4673). It also has achat feature where you can reach out for help from a computer or phone confidentially.
