Brandon Blackstock Counters Kelly Clarkson's Lawsuit Over $2.6 Million Judgment
In a legal battle, Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's former husband and manager, responds to the singer's lawsuit regarding a $2.6 million ruling, asserting his position
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Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Matt Baron/Shutterstock
Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, is responding to the singer's recent lawsuit. One month after Clarkson filed a lawsuit claiming she deserves more than the $2.6 million that a California labor commissioner said Blackstock owed her, Blackstock is now asking for the case to be thrown out.
According to court documents from People on Monday, April 15, Blackstock and his management firm, Starstruck Management, deny all allegations made by the pop superstar.
Blackstock and his legal team believe that the lawsuit should be thrown out because the labor commissioner's ruling from November 2023 is considered final for Clarkson.
Blackstock and his attorneys argue in court documents that because she did not file a notice of appeal within 10 days from when the decision was made, it is now outside of the proper jurisdiction to file a separate lawsuit.
In court documents, Blackstock's team claims that Clarkson's complaint does not have enough facts to support a cause of action against Starstruck. Therefore, it is barred for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
In November 2023, a California labor commissioner decided that Blackstock must pay his ex-wife $2,641,374 in commissions. According to court records seen by TMZ, Blackstock helped his ex-wife get various opportunities such as coaching on The Voice, hosting the Billboard Music Awards, and securing brand deals with companies like Norwegian Cruise Line and Wayfair. It's worth noting that managers usually aren't supposed to find new jobs for their clients, as that is typically the job of talent agents.
Blackstock allegedly received a fee for arranging Clarkson's performances, with TMZ suggesting that the amount exceeded the musician's earnings for each show.
After almost four months following the labor commissioner's decision, Clarkson took legal action against Starstruck, alleging that the company had broken state labor regulations by functioning as unlicensed talent agents and securing business opportunities while she was under their management.
As part of her recent legal action, The Voice judge was looking to recover all the money she had paid to Starstruck, owned by Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock.
In response to the lawsuit, Brandon’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, stated to Rolling Stone that it is not right to try to reclaim funds from an ex-spouse who not only managed her but also used the earnings for their children and their lifestyle during the marriage.
Clarkson and Blackstock were married for seven years and had two children together: River Rose, 9, and Remington, 7. (Brandon also had two older children from a previous relationship.)
In June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce after seven years of marriage. The divorce was finalized two years later.
When discussing divorce during a March 2023 appearance on the “Angie Martinez IRL” podcast, she shared that the hardest part, especially when it's publicized, is that people think they know the whole story. It wasn't a decision made overnight. For anyone who has gone through a divorce, they understand. It took years of effort, not to make it work forcefully, but to create something beautiful and awesome. She aimed to make it everything it could be, but sometimes things just don't work out that way.
Editor's P/S:
The legal battle between Kelly Clarkson and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, continues to unfold. Blackstock's attempt to dismiss Clarkson's lawsuit raises questions about the complexity of the case and the legal intricacies involved. The labor commissioner's ruling, which Blackstock contends is final, may have significant implications for the outcome of the lawsuit.
Clarkson's allegations against Starstruck highlight the importance of clear boundaries and regulations in the entertainment industry. The blurred line between managers and talent agents can lead to conflicts of interest and potentially exploitative practices. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future disputes and help protect artists from unfair treatment by those entrusted with their careers.
