During an opening monologue for Saturday Night Live, Keke Palmer revealed she is expecting. The news has encouraged other women to open up about their PCOS and fertility struggles.
If there’s one thing you can expect from Keke Palmer, it’s that she’ll always be open and honest, and do so in the most comedic of ways. Even when going through tough times, Palmer’s is a voice that continues to find the silver lining in any situation. And now, she’s sharing the joy of her baby news with fans as she made the announcement that she’s expecting her first baby alongside boyfriend, Darius Jackson, while hosting Saturday Night Live.
The actress, 29, took to the Saturday Night Live stage to address speculation concerning her growing baby bump. “There’s some rumours going around, people have been in my comments saying, ‘Keke’s having a baby, Keke’s pregnant,’ and I wanna set the record straight – I am!” At that point, Palmer then ripped open her overcoat to expose her growing bump on the Studio 8H stage.
For Palmer, the announcement is made all the more special after she spent years struggling with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a diagnosis she first revealed on social media in 2020. Palmer has been incredibly open about her health journey, and the hormone disorder that often results in symptoms like irregular periods, acne, painful periods, excessive hair growth, and fluctuating weight according to the Mayo Clinic. As Palmer expressed at the time, her experience of PCOS felt like being attacked “from the inside out” for her entire life.
She’s also detailed her struggles with acne that have resulted from PCOS, writing in an Instagram post: “The least harmful thing PCOS can bring is acne. To all the people struggling with this please know you’re not alone and that you are still so fucking fine!” She added, “MY ACNE AINT NEVER STOPPED ME. But we don’t have accept this. Now I can really help KEKE! And I love her so it’s ON.”
For Palmer, it was this acne that actually led her on her own health journey, as she looked inwards and wanted to better understand her body. In an interview with Glamour UK, she revealed: “I kind of discovered that that’s what I was dealing with, and it answered a lot of the questions to, not only why I had acne, but why I grow hair on my face or under my chin. I kind of have a low-key beard going on that I have to shave every couple of days.”
While the symptoms of PCOS vary for each individual, they can even include infertility or difficulty getting pregnant. Not surprisingly, many fans have celebrated Palmer’s news and found great comfort in it, leading them to share their own PCOS journey and infertility struggles.
In sharing her story and being so open with her PCOS, Palmer has inspired many to speak their truth as she looks to remove the stigma and shame around the health condition that for many, can feel like living with an invisible illness. As she said of her pregnancy on SNL, “Honestly, this has been the biggest blessing, and I am so excited. Guys, I’m going to be a mom!”
I get really excited when PCOS is trending because I find out so much more about it on Twitter than I ever have been able to in a doctor’s office and even independent research…and that’s really stupid because it literally affects so many people.
— Nicole McCrimmon (@nahcolenem) December 4, 2022
As a woman with PCOS seeing Keke Palmer pregnant and also having PCOS is truly amazing. The first thing you think about after your diagnosis is “Will I ever have kids?”. God always has the last say so, so I know when my time comes it will be one of my greatest testimonies.
— BELL™️ (@TheeBellAire) December 4, 2022
With PCOS, you’re told you won’t have kids so I know this hits different for her. Congratulations Keke!
— lover girl 🤍 (@IndiaAlmighty) December 4, 2022
knowing that keke palmer was able to get pregnant with having PCOS, gives me hope in knowing that I can have a baby myself 🥹💙. never give up hope! https://t.co/Vzn5y6O9Ei
— christmas spirit ⛄🦌🎄 (@AlanaFelice_) December 4, 2022
