Key Takeaways
- Law Roach said Keke Palmer made the right business decision by firing him because he “couldn’t get it right” as her stylist.
- Palmer wanted outfits that concealed her pregnancy, while Roach preferred to celebrate her maternity style, prompting her to tell him, “You may be the best stylist in the world, but you are not the best stylist for me.”
- Roach holds no grudge and now chooses clients more selectively while continuing his longtime partnership with Zendaya and expanding his roster with Kim Kardashian and Porsha Williams.
Law Roach has dressed some of Hollywood's biggest stars, but apparently, even the man behind Zendaya's most memorable looks isn't the right stylist for everybody. Just ask Keke Palmer, who fired him after he repeatedly struggled to deliver the looks she wanted.
During an appearance on Emma Grede's Aspire podcast, which premiered on Tuesday, October 20, the self-described "Image Architect" opened up about losing Palmer as a client—and why he believes she made the right call.
"I couldn't get it right. I couldn't get it right," Roach admitted. "I love Keke to death. It wasn't personal. It was a business decision that she should have made."
According to Roach, the problem wasn't a lack of effort. Palmer was pregnant at the time and wanted to keep the news private, which meant finding outfits that concealed her growing baby bump. Roach, however, was eager to embrace maternity fashion.
"She was pregnant and she was lying about being pregnant," he recalled. "This lady had me putting her in all these clothes, hiding this baby bump."
While Roach wanted to create looks celebrating Palmer's pregnancy, the actress wasn't ready to share that part of her life publicly. Their different approaches eventually ended their professional relationship.
But Palmer didn't leave him guessing about why she was moving on.
"She called me," Roach recalled. "She said, 'You may be the best stylist in the world, but you are not the best stylist for me.'"
Roach said he respected her decision, particularly because Palmer knew what she wanted despite working with one of Hollywood's most sought-after stylists.
"I couldn't deliver. And I'm not mad at that," he said, adding that he still tells the story with pride.
The admission comes as Roach continues to expand his already formidable roster of celebrity clients. In September, he announced that Kim Kardashian had hired him, while The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams enlisted his services ahead of Paris Fashion Week. The two subsequently attended Schiaparelli's Spring/Summer 2027 runway show together.
"We fight and we fight and I know when to let go and she knows when to let go," he explained, pushing back against the assumption that Zendaya simply wears whatever he selects.
Roach also discussed how his highly publicized 2023 retirement changed his approach to accepting clients. After years of juggling demanding schedules and international press tours, he said he became more selective about the people he works with.
"I want to work with people who genuinely see the way that I can add value," he explained.
As for Palmer, Roach isn't holding a grudge over getting fired. Instead, he credits her with recognizing that a famous name and an impressive résumé don't necessarily guarantee a successful working relationship.
"I tell that story all the time with pride," he said. "She made a great business decision."
