According to Keke Palmer, attending Usher’s show in 2023 triggered a series of events that led to her sharing custody of her young son with her then-boyfriend, actor Darius Jackson.
On her podcast, "Baby, This is Keke Palmer," she and Usher talked about when he serenaded her during his Las Vegas “My Way” residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
"Everyone reacted wildly, and it caused some issues in my relationship," Keke said. "We were just putting on a show!"
What Happens in Vegas Doesn’t Always Stay There
Usher included Palmer in his typical routine, where he sings to female celebrities in the front row. However, after a video of this performance hit social media, the situation became "dicey," and it wasn't related to the casino's craps tables.
Many people in the crowd captured the moment that night, and the video quickly went viral. Here is just one of the many social media posts that appeared soon after.
Usher serenades Keke Palmer 😍✨ pic.twitter.com/xbMFlXu7FF
— RNB RADAR (@RNB_RADAR) July 5, 2023
The video upset Jackson, but not for the expected reason.
Darius Jackson Was Not Upset About the Performance
Instead of being jealous of Usher's attention to Palmer, he was unhappy with her outfit —a black bodysuit and sheer dress.
He posted on X, “It’s the outfit tho. You a mom.”
Palmer’s fans did not appreciate Jackson’s comments and strongly criticized him online for being sexist. His attempt to calm the situation with another post only made things worse for him.
Last year, the court granted Keke Palmer a domestic violence restraining order against Darius Jackson, stating that he had physically abused her several times during their two-year relationship.
What’s Usher Say About All of This?
During the podcast, Usher playfully rejected the idea that they were both to blame for the drama, asking her, "Did I have anything to do with what happened at your home? Did I give you the dress? I can't be blamed for how people react to my performances."
He went on to say, "I don't want to take any responsibility for breaking anybody's home up. That wasn't the purpose and point. It was for you to have a good time with your girls."
Toward the end of their interview, Usher told Palmer: “You looked fabulous, by the way, and if you didn’t wear what you wore, I wouldn’t have seen you.”
Where Does Usher Go From Here?
Usher’s successful two-year run at Vegas is over, but he’s not going to rest. The My Way: The Las Vegas Residency sold out 100 shows, and now he is returning to Europe for his first tour since 2015.
His World Tour has several European stops, including the United Kingdom and France, and then goes to the United Arab Emirates. His next concert is on March 29, 2025, at The O₂ in London, England
His biggest hits include “Yeah!”, “Burn” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love.”
Keke Palmer Also Staying Busy in 2025
In addition to hosting her podcast, Palmer starred in the movie "One of Them Days" with SZA and released her second book, "Master of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative."
She also received a nomination for Entertainer of the Year at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, competing with big names like Cynthia Erivo, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe.
So, what happens in Vegas may not always stay in Vegas, but Palmer is proof that you can come back from even the most controversial moments caught on tape in Sin City.
Maybe next time, they'll stay home and play a little "Price is Right" in the BetMGM online casino, just to play it safe.
