Keke Palmer says motherhood has transformed her in ways she never expected. The Harvey, Illinois, native became a first-time mom to son Leo in February 2023 and opened up to Rolling Stone about how much her little boy has changed her life.
“He’s everything to me,” Palmer said. “And honestly, he’s really a very cool kid. He’s the funnest kid ever, and he’s so smart.”
The actress, singer and producer said motherhood has exceeded anything she imagined. “Motherhood, I thought was gonna be dope, but it’s way better than I could ever describe,” she said. “It really is.”
While Palmer acknowledged that having children “isn’t for everybody,” she said it was always something she knew was meant for her. “I get to see this person, be a part of their life, and support them as they become who they are meant to be,” she said. “It’s just the coolest thing.”
Of course, Palmer also kept it real about the less glamorous side of parenting. “Well, first of all, my son’s mean as hell,” she joked. “He’s not nice. I left that part out.”
She recalled coming home from Pilates when Leo delivered an unintentionally brutal review. “I come in the house and my son said, ‘Mummy, you stink,’” Palmer said. “Excuse me?”
Palmer shares Leo with fitness instructor Darius Jackson. The two split in October 2023, but Palmer said she has a strong support system around her. “Me and my sisters live together,” she said. “And then my mom is always there, and I also have supportive nannies. The village is large. I don’t know what I would be able to do without all the help that I have.”
Palmer, who is currently single, also said her views on dating in the entertainment industry have shifted over time. “When I was younger, especially, I used to always be like, ‘I don’t want anybody in this business,’” she said. “Because you see a lot. It’s a lot of crazies up over here. But I realize there’s crazies everywhere.”
She added that she is now more open to dating entertainers or people in the industry than she was in the past. “But I’m giving more Miss Congeniality than Michelle Pfeiffer,” Palmer said.
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