Keke Palmer and son Leo recreate Michael and Janet Jackson’s iconic ‘Scream’ video for Halloween

The actress and her 3-year-old son are keeping their elaborate Halloween tradition alive with a tribute to the King and Queen of Pop’s unforgettable 1995 collaboration.

When it comes to Halloween, Keke Palmer doesn’t just dress up. She commits to the assignment, and her 3-year-old son, Leo, is learning early that his mama doesn’t do anything halfway.

This year, the actress and entertainer recruited her favorite little co-star to recreate Michael and Janet Jackson’s iconic 1995 music video, “Scream,” complete with futuristic costumes, dramatic hairstyles and a black-and-white visual treatment inspired by the original.

Palmer transformed herself into Janet Jackson, sporting the singer’s signature spiky hairstyle and an all-black ensemble, while Leo stepped into the shoes of the King of Pop, rocking slicked-back hair and a matching outfit.

The results were impressive, but the behind-the-scenes humor might be even better.

In a video shared to Instagram on Wednesday, Oct. 28, Palmer performs choreography inspired by the Jackson siblings’ legendary collaboration while Leo sits nearby, seemingly more interested in his iPad than his starring role.

“Happy Halloween from me && my mini me!!” Palmer wrote in the caption, crediting the tablet with helping her pull off the production. “That iPad is a life saver omg. I haven’t stopped laughing.”

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Of course, the finished photographs tell a different story. Looking every bit the part of the famous brother-sister duo, Palmer and Leo strike poses that pay homage to the original music video, which remains one of the most memorable collaborations in pop music history.

But for Palmer, the elaborate tribute is about more than costumes and choreography. It’s another opportunity to create lasting memories with her son.

“Another memory with mommy and son!” she wrote alongside the photos. “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BUDDY. ITS SO MUCH FUN PLAYING WITH YOU!”

She also offered a sweet prediction about Leo’s future, writing, “You will take over the family business, your way, someday,” before ending with a clever nod to the song: “My SCREAM come true.”

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Released in 1995, “Scream” brought Michael and Janet Jackson together for a visually groundbreaking collaboration. Directed by Mark Romanek, the futuristic black-and-white music video featured elaborate sets, innovative special effects and the kind of synchronized choreography that helped cement both siblings’ places in music history.

More than three decades later, its influence is still going strong, and Palmer’s tribute is proof that some pop culture moments never go out of style.

This isn’t the first time Palmer has gone all out for Halloween with Leo, whom she welcomed in February 2023.

In 2023, the pair dressed as the Bride of Frankenstein and Dr. Frankenstein. The following year, Palmer channeled Cersei Lannister from “Game of Thrones,” with Leo playing her son, King Joffrey, as they posed on the Iron Throne.

Last Halloween, they took their inspiration from another memorable moment in Black music history, recreating Snoop Dogg and Bow Wow’s “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)” music video.

With this year’s tribute to Michael and Janet Jackson, Palmer is continuing a tradition that celebrates creativity, family and a little bit of Black music nostalgia.

And if Leo eventually does take over the family business, as his mother predicts, he’ll already have an impressive collection of childhood performances to look back on.

Whether he’ll be willing to put down the iPad for his next starring role remains to be seen.