Keke Palmer is already thinking far ahead when it comes to her son’s future, and she’s not shying away from the idea of becoming a “nepo mom.”
In a recent interview with Marie Claire, Palmer opened up about her hopes for her son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, affectionately known as Leo, and joked that she’s already mapped out his career path. When asked how she’d feel about becoming a nepotism parent after noticing how comfortable Leo seems around cameras, Palmer didn’t hesitate.
“Girl. The job was made for me,” she said. Palmer went on to explain that she’s less interested in the typical child-actor route and more intrigued by something unexpected. She also playfully imagined a future where her son could be breaking barriers behind the camera at a young age.
“We’ve seen child actors, but have we seen child directors?” she asked. “So now I’m on Leo being a baby director. We’ve never seen that.”
“If he was 15, directing major motion films?” she added, envisioning Leo explaining that he started directing shorts, TikToks, and Reels as a child before moving on to features, including one starring his famous mother.
“How good would that be?” Palmer said. “So I already have his career worked out.”
While the comments were delivered with humor, Palmer also made it clear that her thinking goes beyond entertainment fame. She framed her vision in terms of legacy and ownership, pointing to long-standing family-run businesses as inspiration.
“I would love for Leo to be into the family business somehow,” she said, referencing Estée Lauder and how the beauty empire continues to be run by her sons. “That’s the kind of work I’m trying to do.”
Leo, whom Palmer shares with her ex-partner Darius Jackson, was born in February 2023. Since his birth, Palmer has frequently spoken about how motherhood has reshaped her priorities, creativity, and sense of purpose. While she occasionally shares moments of Leo on social media, she’s also been vocal about protecting his autonomy and allowing him to grow into his own identity.