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Keke Palmer Reveals How Motherhood Has Transformed Her Life And Career
Actress and singer Keke Palmer has been gracing our television and movie screens with countless projects since the tender age of nine.
Many of Palmer's notable works aside from music and hosting include Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Akeelah and the Bee, Madea's Family Reunion, True Jackson, VP, Scream Queens, Hustlers, Nope, and a reboot of The Proud Family series titled The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. In addition to the professional success the 29-year-old has obtained in the entertainment industry, Palmer recently become a mother. The star welcomed a son, Leodis Jackson, with longtime partner Darius Jackson in February of this year.
Since Leodis' birth, Palmer has been vocal about her experience as a first-time mom and the various hardships that come along with it, including trying to balance a career. Alongside working on films and shows, Palmer created a digital television network KeyTV.
On March 28, during an interview with Elle Magazine, Palmer talked about how motherhood could affect her overall craft as an entertainer.
Keke Palmer On If She Would Include Her Son On Future Projects
In the discussion, Palmer recounted the different trajectories she has taken in her career and shared that the most personal route has been becoming a social media influencer because fans get a deeper look into her life.
"There are different ways in which I exist," she said. "I exist as a traditional entertainer, where it's movies. I exist as a host, which involves more of a personal flair to it and invites a little bit more of my personal life into it. When there's also the influencer aspect where you get a little more of a glimpse at my life."
Expanding on that topic, the "I Don't Belong to You" vocalist then disclosed that she is unsure if she would include her son Leodis in any of her content. Although Palmer didn't provide a particular reason surrounding her uncertainty, the new mom stated,
"I don't know how my baby will fit into that or if that's something that I'll even want. I don't know if motherhood will be part of that narrative or not."
Toward the end of her statement, Palmer revealed that because she may be unsure about involving the newborn in future projects now doesn't necessarily mean that she's ruled out any possibilities of what fate brings her.
"Only time will tell, but I'm definitely interested to see. I'm also the type of person that wants to share whatever changes and impacts me. I might be like, 'I have something to say, so here's a book.' I don't know. Or motherhood might be off limits, Beyoncé style. I don't think I'll know until I know," she explained while briefly mentioning Beyoncé's parenting style.
Palmer On Being a Mother and Praising Single Parents
This isn't the first time Palmer has talked about Leodis and the impact he has had on her life.
Earlier this month, the Alice actress shared that she has experienced a newfound appreciation for single parents since becoming a mother to Leodis, who was a few days old at the time, by posting an emotional Instagram video.
"I just came on here to say, if you're a single parent, pull out your cape. Matter of fact, clip off your angel wings because I don't know how you guys did it." Palmer said. "And I really don't want this to sound like pandering, or something like this, because I know there's a million and one reasons why somebody wants to be a single parent or has become a single parent."
Also, in the clip, Palmer went on to list various reasons why an individual became a single parent, ranging from a spouse's death to the person choosing to be alone. Palmer ended the video by explaining that she is "impressed" by her friends and family that are single parents because she realized that after having Leodis that it takes a "village" to raise a child and that many don't have the privilege.
"But when it comes to raising a kid, I've already learned in these short few days that it takes a village. And sometimes, that's a privilege. And I just want anybody out there that's a single parent that's been doing this, friends of mine, people that I don't know, family members of mine, I'm really in my heart, it brings tears to my eyes. I am just truly, profoundly impressed," Palmer shared as she teared up.
Since that post, Palmer has appeared to be tackling motherhood and her career just fine. The star updated her fans in another upload and expressed that her son has given her "a greater purpose" and how excited she is for what's to come.
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Feature image by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."