Keke Palmer on Virgos, Gag Orders, and Turning 30

Keke Palmer wears so many hats that, when the actor’s strike hit, she remained plenty busy—not least of all with motherhood, having given birth to her son Leodis in February. In September, she embarked on her Big Boss Tour, celebrating her fourth studio album with shows across North America. At Webster Hall in New York City, we asked Palmer to take our Rorschach Test. Topics ranged from Usher to child stardom, baby daddies to splitting the bill, and Palmer, as expected, did not hold back.

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MOTHERHOOD

“Amazing, exhausting. It changes everything about you. It’s made me a lot stronger and really love myself a lot more, because you want to be the very best you can for this person that deserves the best of you.”

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THE RENAISSANCE TOUR

“Oh my gosh, so much fun, a true experience. She’s one of the only people that we have in our generation that can really do it like that. Really next level, and not every performer is willing to make that investment.”

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CHILD STARDOM

“Ooh. Spooky-ooky, and quite a lot to deal with. Child stardom is something that you should never seek, but if it happens, it happens. It can honestly kind of stunt you if you’re not too careful.”

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“SKEEYEE”

“Go on ahead, Sexyy Red. I’ve been here skeeyee-ing since I was a kid. It was something the grown folks said, but the kids, you don’t really say it. She bringing back that old school.”

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“SORRY TO THIS MAN”

“I mean, comical. I never thought that moment would be what it became. Glad to be a part of it, I guess.”

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USHER

 “Iconic, brilliantly talented, classic. Shit, childhood and adulthood.”

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KIKI’S

“I’m Keke in the morning, noon, and night. I love being with my glam, talking pop culture. All tea, no shade. We just love getting into it. What are our hot topics? What are our takes? We’ll dissect something, give a little critical theory. So yeah, I’m here for a good kiki, honey.”

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STRIKES

“Necessary, child. You’ve got to stand up to the people when you aren’t getting what you feel you deserve.”

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OSCAR SNUBS

“I thought you’re talking about somebody named Oscar Snubs. I’m like, “Now, who is he?” But you know what? People deserve to be appreciated for their work, right? But I think the appreciation comes from the people in the world feeling it, watching it, who are affected by it. I don’t do movies and stuff like that for awards.”

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BABY DADDIES

“Shit, we all got one. Unless you went the other route, which we all know is fabulous, thanks to technology.”

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TURNING 30

“Relief, first of all, because I’m still alive. I’ve learned from the 20s, which were truly overrated. Now I’m ready to enjoy the 30s and really dip into my bag and let all these bitches know.”

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SCREAM QUEENS

“Oh, a classic, fun, a memory, a moment in time. It’s a piece of art that also helped me develop my comedic skills.”

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TAYLOR AND TRAVIS

“I’m living for it. I just love all the hoopla about it. I think he loves it, too.”

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VIRGOS

“Fabulous. We shaking the table. We’re not afraid to stand up and stand out.”

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JADA PINKETT SMITH

“I knew that was next. I mean, she’s Virgo-ing right now. She’s living her best life, she’s selling the hell out this book. She’s doing what she can to help evolve the storylines around what people think happiness is, what marriage is, what life is, and what freedom is as a Black woman.”

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EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

“It’s got to be there. I just want them to talk to me, but don’t scare me. They need to slowly reveal themselves and then be friends with me on that ET.”

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SPLITTING THE BILL

“Shit, what the hell we splitting it up for? I’ll do it.”

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ELF BARS

“I’m putting up the sign of the cross. Get me out of here. I have to resist. I just saw that damn Juul documentary.”

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GAG ORDERS

“If it needs to be, gag their asses.”

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BREASTFEEDING

“Quite the journey, but what a treat. Me and my baby are hanging on by a thread, sweetie. He’s taking every last drop he can get and I’m here for it.”

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REPUBLICANS

“I feel like the whole politics thing has turned into a damn gang. The Bloods and the Crips, child. More often than not, people are a little bit more independent than we realize. No one thinks one way all the time. And if you do, girl, you need help.”

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DATE NIGHT

“Love it. Let’s go somewhere really nice. It has to be Michelin star.”

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SITUATIONSHIPS

“Love it. It’s your situation and you shipped it, okay? A lot of times, when people think ‘situationship,’ they think it’s something that only benefits the man. But as women, we got options, baby. We just don’t always explore them.”