Keke Palmer & her ex will do mediation, but the restraining order is still in place

In November, Keke Palmer sought and received a domestic violence restraining order against her ex, Darius Jackson. Darius had physically and emotionally abused her for months, and his behavior was escalating over the course of this year. Keke has a lot of evidence, including eyewitnesses, security-footage of some of the assaults, and her own emotional narrative of the abuse. Darius is still threatening her in broad daylight too. But there’s also their son to consider, which is why the court recommended some kind of mediation. Now, Keke and Darius have both agree to try to settle the custody issues in mediation, but the restraining order remains in place:

Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson have requested to delay their restraining order hearing. In November, the Nope actress, 30, was granted her request for a temporary domestic violence restraining order and temporary sole custody of their 9-month-old son Leodis “Leo” Andrellton.

A hearing had been set for Tuesday, Dec. 5, and Darius, 29, was prohibited from all contact with them, by being required to stay more than 100 yards away from Palmer and their son,

According to a court filing from this week, the exes requested to have the court date rescheduled in order to “allow the parties time to attend mediation. The parties request that the Mediation and Petitioner’s DVRO be continued to a mutually agreeable date.” They originally had court-ordered mediation set for Nov. 29.

Palmer and Jackson also agreed that the orders outlined in the temporary restraining order “shall remain in full force and effect” until the rescheduled hearing, according to the documents obtained by PEOPLE.

A source close to Palmer tells PEOPLE the temporary restraining order “remains in full force and effect and will not be dropped.”

“Keke will continue to protect her safety and the safety of Leo above all else,” says the source, adding that the actress “agreed to mediation because the case has gotten so much speculation and media attention, and she is concerned about her privacy, Leo’s privacy, and the privacy of her family.” The source says, “Her preference is to resolve the situation privately rather than in open court, if possible. But if not possible, the hearing remains on the calendar and Keke will stop at nothing to ensure a safe and healthy outcome for herself and Leo.”

[From People]

Mediation can be different things – sometimes it’s two people and their lawyers in a room, working out their sh-t in good faith. Sometimes it’s people in separate rooms, with lawyers going back and forth, negotiating entirely through third parties. My hope for Keke is that she doesn’t have to see that man or be around him. My hope is that she has excellent lawyers helping her and protecting her. My hope is that she doesn’t become another domestic violence victim screwed over by the system.

Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Cover Images.

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19 Responses to “Keke Palmer & her ex will do mediation, but the restraining order is still in place”

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  1. ML says:

    Keke “has to” do the mediation to show that she is not rancorous towards DJ, right? I’m glad the order of protection is still in place, I’m so sorry that she is bound to her abuser through their son, and I hope she’s able to get full custody and stay safe!

  2. LooneyTunes says:

    So sad when kids are in the mix, otherwise, she could’ve just walked away from this jerk.

  3. GoldenMom says:

    Sadly, Keke will be paying for her son for the next 18 years. Its all about money and control with this one. You know he sees it as having ‘given’ her Leo, now she will have to pay for it. Hopefully the mediator acknowledges the situation and ringfences him so she won’t be damaged for a very long time.

  4. Libra says:

    18 years? Try the rest of his life. Mothers are Mothers for a lifetime and also includes financial help when in need, no matter the age.

    • Libra says:

      This was meant to reply to @goldenmom.

    • GoldenMom says:

      This father should only be entitled to money until Leo comes of age. Nothing to do with Leo other than his role as the child of both.

      • Libra says:

        I totally misunderstood. If course you are right. I thought you were referring to the child and not the father. Apologies.

      • GoldenMom says:

        Was half awake and using a lot of ‘he’….not clear, was I? Just pissed off that this happens at all. Hopefully her mediator is good

  5. SIde Eye says:

    He’s looking for a payout and control. Just throw money at him and make him go away forever. ladies, careful who you procreate with.You’re stuck with them for a mighty long time. He is not going away quietly. Omg I feel for her.

    • Whyforthelove says:

      Agree, this needs a payout in exchange for him signing over full custody. It’s the only way she will ever have a measure of peace. This guy is an a&$ he definitely has a price. This kid is just a power symbol to him and a weapon

    • Snoozer says:

      I agree, however, considering how abusive he is, it’s entirely possible that Darius undertook reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) rather than Keke freely choosing this.

  6. M says:

    My youngest is in her 20s and my ex continues his abuse via the courts. It truly never ends if you leave a narc.

    • Whyforthelove says:

      God M I’m so so sorry.

      • M says:

        Thank you. I don’t post/talk about it much because I try not to give another reason for him to take me to court lol. But even in progressive states like California, Narcs use the courts to continue abuse. It’s wild.

  7. Lady Digby says:

    It would help if mediation is online only because it is much safer. Here in UK , my friend attended online mediation as 12 year child custody needed discussion given RO on ex. Social workers will facilitate safe space supervised access to child if that is required. Mediation with trained counselor helped her voice be heard and views respected and ex not allowed to rant and dominate. Her lawyer advised meditation as courts like to see reasonable conduct from both parents to agree on custody. She felt it helped her move forward safely as she can’t be physically in his presence due to RO. I hope Keke gets the right resolution for herself and son.

  8. Dylan says:

    Anytime a woman alleges domestic abuse or child sexual assault in the family court system—especially if there is any money to be made by the family “court” system she is at much higher risk of losing her child to an abuser. Google this to understand the extent of this horror and of how judges and so-called experts are handing children over to their abusers. There is an international movement of mothers trying to end this blight and shame. Dr. Bandy Lee, the psychiatrist who lost her job for warning us about Trump’s psychopathology five or six years ago, has been thoughtfully chronicling her sister’s horror of losing her children to the inanity of what Palmer now faces. Parental alienation syndrome is alive and well in the court system also. All of this is unbelievable if you have not spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting an abuser in the legal system because highly trained mediators are played by abusers and unable to contextualize behavior through the lense of domestic violence. Consider yourselves warned, ladies. Statistically one to three of four of you are trying to survive “coercive control.” Good luck dealing with the system that encourages you to speak out and get help then treats you like you are the problem.

    • Myeh says:

      WOC know this from the start. We will be disbelieved so we will have all the reciepts with video, text, eyewitnesses etc. We will still be exploited and blamed in the legal system built on the values of white supremacy and mired in patriarchal hierarchy. We expect injustice and try to keep ourselves as safe as possible and limit the amount of damage we must take on. I’ve been in separate room mediation where he barged in and I’ve been in same room mediation where I was forced to endanger my life. I’ve had a chair thrown at me and my ex husband show up in his leo uniform with his sidearm calling a court commissioner (retired judge) mediating biased because the court commissioner was black. It was horrible. Hoping that wealth will insulate Keke through lawyers is a long shot. She will be exploited more and judged to be problematic. Whenever women speak up we are blamed and an unjust legal system punishes the victim and sides with the abuser. The only women it hands a win to are usually white, demure and forced to play the weak, wronged, long suffering but quiet and thus deserving believable valuable victim. It’s so gross.

  9. Aurora says:

    No one deserves to go through this. Little nobody men feel the need to put down women who meet the level of success ‘denied’ to them. And of course he’d want to get paid if she wants him out of his life. The writing has been on the wall for a long time for what she could expect from this guy. Exactly this. She’s been blessed with beauty and support from powerful industry people who see something in her and want to keep her happening . She can do better in her personal life, starting by putting this ugly chapter behind.

  10. J.Ferber says:

    Is it me or is she actually becoming more beautiful each day? I hope she mediates that man right out of her and her son’s lives. She is a queen.