Keke Palmer accuses ex Darius Jackson of 'physically attacking me,' mother responds
Keke Palmer is seeking full custody of her 8-month-old son with former partner Darius Jackson after alleging Jackson repeatedly abused her during their relationship.
Palmer, 30, claims that Jackson, 29, has been "unhinged, volatile and dangerous to both me and our son," according to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday and obtained by USA TODAY.
The "Nope" actress petitioned the court for legal and physical custody of her son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, and also filed for a temporary restraining order as well as a request for a domestic violence restraining order.
USA TODAY has reached out to attorneys for Palmer and Jackson's manager for comment.
In her filing, Palmer alleged that Jackson abused her "multiple times over the past 2+ years," including, most recently, the previous weekend. She described multiple instances of physical and emotional abuse in writing and also provided security camera video stills as evidence.
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Palmer's mother took to Instagram to defend her daughter Thursday.
In an Instagram video posted to her unverified account, which USA TODAY has confirmed belongs to the actress' mother, Sharon Palmer called out Jackson's brother, "Insecure" star Sarunas Jackson, who defended his brother 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 Thursday night: "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."
USA TODAY has reached out to Sarunas Jackson's rep for comment.
Sharon Palmer alleged she contacted Sarunas Jackson "over a year ago" about his brother's 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."
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Of Darius Jackson's most recent alleged abuse, Palmer wrote that he "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." Palmer's sister was upstairs and her mother was on the phone with her during this time. She also claimed Jackson sought to take Leodis with him.
Police arrived before Jackson left her home, interviewed everyone, and encouraged Palmer to file for a domestic violence restraining order, court documents read.
Jackson – whom she dated for two years, from June 2021 until October – is 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, she said in her restraining order request. Palmer also alleged some of the abuse from Jackson took place in front of their son.
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Keke Palmer 'concerned' for son's safety over Darius Jackson's 'violent, volatile and jealous nature'
Palmer wrote she was "very concerned" for her son's safety around his father "given (Jackson's) violent, volatile, and jealous nature," adding as a reason the "lack of restraint Darius has already exhibited regarding his temper in front of our son."
She requested no contact from Jackson and for him to stay at least 100 yards away. Palmer does not want Jackson to be granted visitation rights, nor does she ask for child support, per court documents.
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Palmer also asked the court to restrain Jackson "from harassing me by publicly commenting about me, my family, and/or our son online" and have him complete a 52-week batterer intervention program.
"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."
More:The startling toll on children who witness domestic violence is just now being understood
If you are a victim of domestic violence, The National 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 a chat feature where you can reach out for help from a computer or phone confidentially.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman
