Keke Palmer Addressed What Happened That Jonathan Majors Interview After She Faced Major Backlash

Yahoo

3 days ago

Warning: This article contains discussion of abuse, assault, and domestic violence.
Keke Palmer addressed what happened to that one interview with Jonathan Majors that had a lot of people upset.
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images, Robin L Marshall / Getty Images
On a June 20 episode of The Breakfast Club, the One of Them Days actor explained why the controversial interview with Jonathan never came out following online backlash.
An episode of Keke's podcast Baby, This is Keke Palmer titled "No Easy Answers: Accountability and Moving Forward with Jonathan Majors" was set to premiere everywhere on April 8, and while it was available exclusively for Wondery+ users for a short time, it was ultimately shelved.
The description of the deleted episode read, "Accountability. It's a loaded word, right? We're living in a time where we want real accountability—especially for things men have gotten away with for far too long. At the same time, finding forgiveness feels harder than ever, and we're still figuring out what true accountability even looks like."
The caption continued, "Today, we're sitting down with Jonathan Majors to talk about what life has looked like after being convicted of harassment and assault. This conversation isn't here to give you all the answers—it's complicated, it's messy—but hopefully, it brings us a little closer to understanding the complex emotional landscape of the time we're living through."
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When Keke first promoted the episode, it was met with criticism based on Jonathan being found guilty in 2023 on one count of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment against his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari.
Jonathan has denied culpability and claimed in an interview that he was responsible for "none of her injuries." Since several celebrities have come out in support of Jonathan, including Whoopi Goldberg, who said, 'He was arrested. He went to court. He did what he was supposed to do. I'm not sure what else there is," per the Hollywood Reporter.
It appeared that Jonathan's appearance as the cover star of the Hollywood Reporter and statements of support from actors like Matthew McConaughey and Michael B. Jordan were setting the stage for a comeback, and Keke's interview was going to give him a platform to defend himself, but it was never widely published after the backlash.
George Pimentel / Getty Images for HFPA, Jemal Countess/GA / The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
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Keke and Wondery have remained rather hush on the subject until now. Talking with Loren LoRosa, Jess Hilarious, and DJ Envy, Keke said she was initially excited to speak with Jonathan, especially following his marriage to actor Meagan Good. "Obviously, Meagan's my girl. I've grown up loving her," Keke said. "She's honestly a mentor, you know, to me and representation for all of us young, Black women. I mean, I was happy for her to get married. I was excited to have the conversation."
But, in the end, the team around her felt it wasn't the best option to move forward with the episode, considering the reactions. "I think, ultimately, with my partners, it was just decided based off, I guess, the reactions. That people felt [the interview] was insensitive, that maybe we shouldn't put it out," she continued. "I mean, it's always there, I imagine, if people wanted to see it. But I always want to be respectful and understand where everybody's coming from. And you know, if they're not gonna feel like they're going to receive anything good from the interview, then okay, cool. But, you know, I sat down with the brother for us to talk and let him be heard."
"I think this is the thing, too. For me, as a public figure and entertainer, when I'm doing my hosting, I'm here – y'all know – I'm here to be unbiased," she added. "Everybody that sits in your chair, you don't agree with everything that they did. You don't love everything they did, but you gotta have the conversation."
Keke also appeared on Angela Yee's Way Up With Angela Yee, where she seemingly suggested she was game for the interview, but it was her team who had reservations. "It's not just me. I have partners," Keke said. "It was then suggested or decided that-- without throwing anybody under the bus-- we shouldn't put it out."
"He was interviewing, and I felt like 'Hey, well let's hear it,'" Keke added, clarifying that her desire to speak with a guest doesn't mean she agrees with them. "Just because you're interviewing somebody doesn't mean you agree with everything,"
While you won't be able to catch that Jonathan Majors episode everywhere, you can check out Baby It's Keke Palmer wherever podcasts are available.
Check out the full Way Up With Angela Yee interview here.
Check out the full Breakfast Club interview here.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.
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