Keke Palmer Once Said Tyler Perry Paid for Her to See Dermatologist for Severe Acne as a Teen

After Taraji P. Henson and singer Fantasia revealed how Tyler Perry blessed them, Keke Palmer also decided to open up about the filmmaker’s life-changing role in her fight against acne.

Keke Palmer was born Lauren Keyana Palmer on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois. Her first foray into mainstream acting was when she was cast for a small role in "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" with Queen Latifah.

By 2004, she starred in "The Wool Cap," a made-for-TV movie that earned her the distinction of being the youngest nominee for the Screen Actors Guild's "Best Leading Actress" honor. Two years later, she starred on "Madea's Family Reunion" and "Akeelah and the Bee."

REVEALING HER STRUGGLES

Although it seems everything went smoothly for the actress, she actually struggled with some skin insecurities. When Palmer filled in for then-new mom Sara Haines on ABC’s “Strahan and Sara” in 2019, the former child star shone the spotlight on the menace of acne using her personal story.

Acne plagues many people and can lead to major insecurity issues. In Palmer’s case, it was heightened by growing up in the limelight.

A CONTINUOUS STRUGGLE

Sharing her experience with the show audience, the “Akeelah and the Bee” star confirmed that even at that time, she was still dealing with the skin condition. She said:

“I’ve struggled with this for years, and I still do, and it’s acne. I’ve battled it and documented it on social media.”

HER TRAUMATIC SKIN EXPERIENCE

While she used to feel insecure about her skin, Palmer has now opened up about her struggles with troubled skin. The "Hustlers" star revealed in 2020 that after trying so many different remedies to fix her skin, it all boiled down to Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. She said:

"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 [expletive] fine!"

HOW PERRY STEPPED IN

When Palmer was younger, her acne made her feel insecure, even during red carpet events. When she was around 13 or 14, she attended the NAACP Awards a year after doing "Madea's Family Reunion" with Tyler Perry.

On the awards night, she and her mom saw Perry. He pulled her mom to the side, and he told her that he planned to sponsor her trip to the dermatologist.

HOW IT CHANGED HER LIFE

While it seems like such a small thing for others, Palmer saw it as life-changing. She recalled working with the dermatologist to try different treatments for her skin before finally settling on the perfect remedy.

The actress joins a list of entertainers who have shared their life-changing experiences with Perry and how the filmmaker came through for them in both their personal and professional lives.

HENSON'S BIG BREAK

Like Palmer, Taraji P. Henson revealed that Perry was the first person to pay her $500,000 for a movie role in Hollywood. While she was confident that the industry knew she was talented, she understood it was all about money.

While she had talent, many other people wondered if she was bankable. She continuously had to prove that, and in the end, Tyler Perry was the very first to believe in her capabilities by paying her the amount she requested.

FANTASIA'S BLESSING

Meanwhile, season three “American Idol” winner Fantasia also shared during a radio appearance in 2019 that Perry came through for her at a low point in her life. She said:

"He was one of the ones when I lost everything, he came and blessed me. And I thank him for that."

Perry is an actor and filmmaker known for creating and performing the comic character Madea as well as producing tons of movies and TV series that tell the African American story.