Keke Palmer Has a Surprising Answer When Asked If Son Leo Will Be a Child Actor (Exclusive)
Before she was an A-list movie actress, hit singer-songwriter, Emmy-winning Password host, author and podcaster, Keke Palmerwas a child star on Nickelodeon.
And despite all the drama that went on behind the scenes at the network, she tells Parade in this week's exclusive cover story-coming Wednesday, May 20-that she's open to her three-year-old son, Leo, following in her illustrious footsteps.
"It wouldn't scare me off," says the I Love Boosters star. "I am holding firm on being able to pass down what I've learned as a child entertainer. Being somebody that has been able to come out on the other side of it, I feel like I see things clearly, but I still want to be able to share that. So if I could share that with my son, that would be amazing. I don't believe that we should steer away from things that have a risk. I think we should actually supply people with the tools to understand how to navigate that risk."
Palmer's comments come two years after the 2024 ID docuseries Quiet on Set: The Dark Side Kids TV revealed shocking allegations of abuse and toxic work environments under then-creator, executive producer and showrunner Dan Schneider. (In a 19-minute YouTube video, Schneider apologized for his "embarrassing" behavior on set but denied sexual misconduct or abusing child actors.)
Related: Does Keke Palmer Have a Husband? All About ‘The Pickup' Star's Romantic Life
Palmer made her mark at the network by playing the titular fashion prodigy in the comedy True Jackson, VP, from 2008-11. She was just 15 when the series started, having already starred in the 2006 heartwarmer Akeelah and the Bee. "It was one of the most incredible, unique and special times in my life," she says. "I was experiencing so many grand versions of firsts. It was so cool to have my own show. I have always loved multi-camera sitcoms. I really loved working on that show and the vibe of coming to set and rehearsing and then having a big show on Friday."
Still, she adds, "There was a very difficult reality of what it meant to be a star of your own show, and have that level of a workload. There was so much that came with fame." (Jennette McCurdy-who had a recurring role on the Nick series-documented her own off-camera struggles in the bestselling 2024 memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died.)
Palmer, of course, went on to be a multi-hyphenate performer - she plays the ringleader of a shoplifting crew in the surrealistic comedy I Love Boosters, which hits theaters on Friday, May 22. She says she's eager to teach her son (with ex Darius Jackson) the lessons she learned along the way.
"I would be very, very clear on what it means to say yes to something and carry it through-whether it's acting or sports or anything else, he's going to have to commit himself," she says. "I had a lot of pressure on me as a kid, and I feel very proud to understand what it meant to start and finish something. I think it made adulthood easier for me in many ways, because I knew how to accomplish goals."
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 7:37 AM.