I wasn’t sure how to tell the world I was pregnant

Keke Palmer didn’t know how to publicly address her pregnancy.

The 29-year-old actress is currently expecting her first child with Darius Jackson and announced the news during her opening monologue on Saturday Night Live in December. However, she never felt like it was “never the right time” and knew that if she didn’t announce the news, she would have to hide her growing belly.

She said: “I knew it was going to be a thing to keep quiet about – people were already commenting on it. I didn’t really know how to address it. It just felt like it was never the right time and having a child is so private. But I felt like I should probably tell people. You need a certain level of physicality to be on ‘SNL.’ It was so much fun to say that during my monologue. This is something my child can have forever.”

The ‘Nope’ star added that she is “so excited” about her future child, but joked that she sometimes finds it “creepy” to think about having a growing fetus wandering around inside her.

She told Vanity Fair magazine: “I’m so happy for my child! Pregnancy is a journey. I remember my doctor saying, ‘Pregnancy is not an illness. It’s natural! You don’t have to feel like you’re walking on eggshells.’

“I honestly feel like I always do in the sixth month. I really expected something so dramatic. But I’m just pregnant. Things move in there every now and then. That part is scary sometimes.”

While making her announcement on “SNL,” Keke opened her jacket to show off her growing baby bump.

She said during her opening monologue at the time, Keke said: “There are some rumors going around, people have been saying in my comments, ‘Keke is having a baby, Keke is pregnant,’ and I want to make that clear – that’s me!

“I have to say though, it’s bad when people spread rumors about you all on the internet, but it’s even worse when they’re right. I mean, I tried so hard to keep it a secret because I have a lot going on, you know?

“…But honestly, this was the biggest blessing and I’m so happy. Guys, I’m going to be a mom.”

The “Lightyear” actress admitted that people might find the news “a little strange” because they still view her as a child star.

She joked: “Although some people think it’s a little weird that I’m having a baby because I was a child actress, I just want to say, look, I’m 29, I’m an adult, I have sex, I own a house, I stormed the Capitol on January 6th, you know? Things that adults do.”