Keke Palmer, the talented actress and singer, has opened up about the immense pressures she faced growing up as the second of four children and becoming the primary breadwinner for her family. Reflecting on her early career, Palmer recalled the emotional toll these responsibilities took on her relationship with her parents.
At just 31 years old, Palmer has already made significant strides since her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee back in 2006. This early success was soon followed by her starring role on Nickelodeon's True Jackson, VP, which solidified her place as one of Hollywood's rising stars. "I hated my parents for a long time," she confessed during an interview with The Cut. Despite her family not overtly expressing expectations, Palmer felt the weight of their sacrifices resting on her shoulders.
The pressure intensified over the years, especially as she became aware of the sacrifices her parents had made for her burgeoning career. Palmer shared, "There was so much pressure to rise to the occasion for my community, for my parents, for my siblings, for their sacrifices"—a reality she felt deeply, even when her family didn't directly express those sentiments to her.
Palmer also reminisced about how the dynamics of her relationships during her childhood fame contributed to her emotional struggles. A particularly troubling influence was her former manager's comments about her weight. "It got me thinking she was going to die, thinking about things like medical bills. It was just too much," she said of the traumatic impact those words had on her.
During her time on True Jackson, VP, Palmer was able to connect with her character, who navigated adulthood responsibilities as a teenager. She explained, "She was making it happen for herself independently in the world. Growing up with [True Jackson] — it bled over...into how I wanted to show up, how I wanted to deal with life." This relatable narrative mirrored her own quest for independence amid the pressure.
Despite savoring the success she found on screen, Palmer's time working on True Jackson, VP was not without its challenges. She revealed to PEOPLE, "I had a great time doing True Jackson VP, but it was also a very stressful, difficult, depressive time.” She candidly mentioned her relationship with a significantly older boyfriend during the show's run, admitting, “I was trying to balance between being really young, but also feeling quite mature.”
Palmer reflected on her youthful naivete, stating, "I wasn’t mentally able to process and understand things...that would’ve made the relationship appropriate." It wasn’t until she was older, around the ages of 26 to 28, when she started to experience what she described as "genuine love."
Through her experiences, Palmer has gained clarity on what it means to engage in healthy relationships. "Not until I'd felt what it was like for someone to love me back and to actually give me respect, I realized...the power dynamic [with my other boyfriend] put me in a place harmed me" she reflected, indicating her awareness of the undue burdens placed on her during her formative years.
Palmer's openness about her family's pressures and her growth through past relationships serves as both a cautionary tale and inspiration. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's feelings and experiences, showing how even the brightest lights can be overshadowed by challenges arising from family expectations and societal pressures.
Today, Palmer stands as a figure who is not only successful professionally but is also continuously discovering her true self beyond the spotlight. Her reflections highlight the dual struggle for identity and success experienced by many young stars, challenging the notion of fame as purely glamorous. Keke Palmer is forging her own path—while learning to balance her roots with the demands of her career.