Keke Palmer reveals she’s ‘never felt straight enough’ or ‘gay enough’

Keke Palmer said she never felt “straight enough” or “gay enough” when she spoke candidly about gender and sexuality on Saturday.

The Akeelah and the Bee actress, 29, welcomed her first child with boyfriend Darius Jackson in February.

Receiving a Vanguard award from Karamo Brown at the Los Angeles LGBT Center this weekend, Keke spoke about her feelings towards sexuality.

The actress, who doesn’t use labels to define herself, shared Variety: ‘I have always been my own person. Sexuality and identity have always been a confusion for me.

“You know, it’s, ‘I’ve never felt straight enough. I’ve never felt gay enough. And I’ve never felt woman enough. I’ve never felt man enough.’ You know, I always felt like I was a little bit of everything.’

Happy couple: the actress and her boyfriend Darius Jackson, both 29, have been together since 2021

She continued, “Since I was younger I’ve always questioned the boxes I was forced to be in and it starts with who you’re supposed to be as a kid.”

She added that the event at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel had left her feeling “seen,” compared to the confusing feelings she felt growing up.

Keke opened up about her sexuality earlier in November, when she reflected on wanting to “exist and not be challenged” about her gender and sexuality.

“F**k gender,” she said during an interview with the Hollywood reporter.

In February, Keke welcomed her first child, son Leodis Andrellton, with partner Darius Jackson.

Sharing her first photo as a mother from hospital as she cradled her infant son, the 29-year-old actress looked serene as her husband gazed lovingly at their baby.

In her adorable slideshow, the Emmy Award winner raved about her first 48 hours of parenthood, as she caught a glimpse of her bundle of joy, wrapped in a light gray patterned onesie and a white beanie.

Another photo of her little one showed him sleeping next to a stuffed elephant in a green sweater, while a hilarious video shows the new parents jamming in the car as they take their child home for the first time.

Celebration: Keke received a Vanguard award from Karamo Brown at the Fairmont Century Plaza

New parents: Keke Palmer announced via Instagram on Monday that she gave birth to her first child, a son named Leodis Andrellton Jackson, with her boyfriend Darius Jackson

Big reveal: The artist first confirmed she was expecting her first child with boyfriend, Darius Jackson, while hosting Saturday Night Live last month in December

Child star: The 29-year-old actress, who received rave reviews for her breakout performance as an 11-year-old spelling prodigy in Akeelah and the Bee (2006), admitted that being a household name came with challenges during a new interview with THR (depicted as a teenager)

Lovebirds: Keke’s baby daddy is fitness instructor, Darius Daulton, with whom she has been in a relationship since 2021 (pictured in October 2021)

“I’m not hiding the world from my son, I’m hiding my son from the world,” she joked in the caption.

She also pointed out that her son was “born during Black History Month” and has “a matching name.”

“LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world, baby Leo,” she concluded.

The artist first confirmed she was pregnant with her first child while hosting Saturday Night Live last month in December.

She announced her pregnancy while giving her opening monologue by throwing open her blazer to “set the record straight,” giving viewers a look at her baby bump, before exclaiming, “I’m going to be a mother!”

Keke has been in a relationship with her baby daddy since 2021 and made their romance public on Instagram in August of that year.