While social media was (and is) still reeling from the shocking news about Keke Palmer and the domestic abuse allegations she raised against her presumably now ex-boyfriend Darius Jackson, thanks to a new video posted by Keke’s own brother, it now appears that Darius’ bad behavior may run in the family. I’ll explain.
After the news began circulating that Keke had filed for a temporary restraining order and sole custody of her 8-month-old son Leodis (both of which she was later granted), Sarunas Jackson, Darius’ older brother—who many know as Dro from the popular HBO show Insecure—sent out a since-deleted tweet seemingly in response to the news:
“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 does not deserve it AT ALL...Wow. So damn sad.”
That tweet, in turn, prompted Keke’s mother Sharon Palmer to get online to question why the Insecure actor would go online “posing” as if he’s a “nice guy” when he allegedly knew that his brother was abusing her daughter over a year ago. Sharon also alleged that when Sarunas was told of the abuse, he shrugged it off with the excuse “well I used to be like that too.”
“For Sarunas Jackson to post on his Twitter the ridiculous stuff that he’s posted when he knew his brother was abusive...I went to Sarunas over a year ago and told him that his brother was abusive to my daughter. And he said, ‘uh, well, I used to be like that too.’ What??”
She continued: “So now, he’s posting on Twitter like he’s this uh, special guy, when we know he’s the biggest fuckboy in Hollywood, he’s disrespectful to women—just like his little brother. He taught his brother how to be abusive. So he don’t get to act like he’s this special guy. No, you’re a fuckboy and you’re a part of the problem.”
When Sarunas himself got wind of the video, he hopped in the comments on The Shaderoom’s Instagram post about it to defend himself:
“Quote me: I NEVER ONCE SAID THAT to Sharon. In have NEVER been abusive to any of the women I ever been involved with. I’m not going to keep on with this circus. But Sharon, the world is about to hear YOUR VOICE. Very soon. And the threats you made to my family. Be well everyone...I know it’s easy to get caught up in this but make no mistake that all of this is very sad.”
However, what make matters even more interesting, is that not too long after that exchange, yet another actor from Insecure, Dominique Perry—who shares a daughter with Sarunas—issued a statement clarifying an image she reposted of a clip Michael Jackson eating popcorn from the “Thriller” music video when the Keke Palmer/Darius Jackson news first dropped. What was also notable about that statement, is Dominique also seemingly alluded to her own experience with abuse and said that in due time everyone would listen to her story and that she’d be “vindicated.”
“I would never laugh at ANYONE that is subject to domestic abuse female or male. As it’s knows, abuse comes in different definitions, silent and physical. Only the people enduring such behavior truly know the effect,” she began. “Women have been manipulated, abused, lied on for centuries, and put their head down for fear of not being believed. We need to stop being afraid. I may not be at the highest platform in my career just yet to be heard and/or supported by the public, but whenever that time comes, everyone will listen. God is in control of my steps and I’ll respond accordingly. I will be vindicated in his timing. Pray for the abusers the protected babies will always be fine.”