During a recent interview with Radio Andy, Keke Palmer called out the ridiculous double standard that forces powerful women to only date men in their tax bracket.
Keke Palmer is tired of the double standards, and she’s not sugarcoating it.
The multi-talented actress and mother recently sat down with @radioandyinsta and got real about dating as a successful Black woman. According to her, love is love, and it doesn’t need a matching tax bracket.
During the conversation, the host brought up a common pop culture example: Stedman Graham, Oprah’s longtime partner, who is often the butt of jokes simply because he’s not as rich or powerful as she’s. Keke didn’t hesitate to shut that mindset down.
“Because of gender rules. People feel like, ‘Well, she’s Oprah Winfrey… who did y’all want her to be with? Barack Obama?’ That doesn’t make sense, guys,” she said, clearly fed up.
“Nobody cares if a man finds his woman under a bridge. Nobody cares. And I frankly don’t care. If that’s who you love, that’s who you love. Why do we [as successful women] have to deal with that?”
According to Keke, the expectation that a successful woman must only date “up” or “equal” when men have long dated women with less — financially or otherwise — is steeped in outdated gender roles that no longer make sense.
Keke continued to drop gems, saying she doesn’t date for money. Respect, love, and being treated right matter more than any man’s paycheck.
The Nope star has been vocal about this before. In a previous interview on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe, Keke shared what it’s like dating as a young millionaire. And if we’re being honest, it hasn’t been easy.
Many fans weren’t supportive of her last relationship with Darius Jackson. From the start, some questioned whether he was on her level. That criticism only intensified when he publicly shamed her over a dress she wore to an Usher concert. Things spiraled from there, and the relationship took a dark turn.
Keke later accused Jackson of repeated abuse and filed a restraining order. She also claimed he put their son, Leo, in danger. That situation left a lasting impression, and now she’s speaking up about what she truly wants in a partner. And it’s not someone who just looks good on paper.
Keke Palmer’s message is clear: You don’t need to match her bank account to match her energy.
