Kelly Clarkson’s former husband and managerBrandon Blackstockallegedly didn’t think his wife was “sexy” enough to appear onThe Voiceas a coach,The New York Postreports the Grammy winner claimed in court last year.
Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock.Art Streiber/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty
The outlet reported Clarkson, 41, recounted the alleged conversation while testifying to the California labor commissioner, who then ruled in her favor regarding the owed payments.
Before Clarkson joined the NBC singing competition series in 2018, Blackstock, 47, allegedly told his wife the network was looking for a “diverse” panel of coaches and “had to have someone that was Black.”
Clarkson also reportedly claimed Blackstock said she was “too similar” to then-coachBlake Sheltonto join the show.
Kelly Clarkson.Trae Patton/NBC via Getty
Trae Patton/NBC via Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kelly Clarkson.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
“Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists,” read the ruling.
Documents state that Blackstock was paid commissions for each of Clarkson’s aforementioned gigs, including $1,983,155.70 for her deal as a coach onThe Voice, $208,125 for a promotional deal with NCL, $450,000 for a collaboration with Wayfair and $93.30 for her multi-year contract as theBillboardMusic Awards host — all of which must now be paid back to his ex-wife.
Clarkson and Blackstock were married for nearly seven years before she filed for divorce in June 2020, which wasfinalized two years later. The pair shares two children:daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander. (Blackstock is also father to son Seth anddaughter Savannahfrom his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth.)
source: people.com
