Kelly Clarkson Hits Ex-Husband With Multi-Million Lawsuit

(Scypre.com) – In the ongoing legal saga between Kelly Clarkson and her former spouse and manager, Brandon Blackstock, tensions have escalated with Clarkson’s recent legal action against Blackstock and his father’s company, Starstruck Entertainment. This legal dispute has its roots in the management and financial agreements between the parties, with recent developments bringing to light allegations of unlicensed talent management and demands for financial restitution.

Kelly Clarkson, a celebrated singer and talk show host, has found herself embroiled in a complex legal battle with Brandon Blackstock, her ex-husband, and Starstruck Entertainment, a company run by Blackstock’s father, Narvel Blackstock.

The conflict reached a new height when Clarkson filed a lawsuit in response to a November ruling by a California labor commissioner. This ruling stated that Blackstock had acted as Clarkson’s manager without a proper talent license, engaging in unauthorized business dealings on her behalf. Consequently, Blackstock was ordered to return $2.6 million in commissions he had received.

The crux of the dispute lies in the appeals filed by Blackstock and Starstruck against the commissioner’s decision, pushing for a new trial to reassess the ruling. Clarkson, in turn, has launched a cross-complaint seeking the return of all commissions paid to Blackstock from October 2019 to October 2020, citing violations of the Talent Agencies Act.

This demand is anchored in allegations that Starstruck operated without a talent agency license since Clarkson’s engagement with the company in 2007 under an oral management agreement. Clarkson’s legal team argues that this arrangement, which required her to pay 15% of her earnings, was based on deceit, aimed at evading the legal requirements for talent agencies in California.

The documents filed in court paint a picture of Starstruck’s alleged malpractice, accusing it of attempting to bypass the Talent Agencies Act’s licensing and regulatory mandates through an unlicensed agreement with Clarkson. This has led Clarkson to question the validity of all agreements made with Starstruck since 2007, asking the court to declare them void and unenforceable. Furthermore, Clarkson seeks a thorough accounting from Starstruck for all monies received in connection with her services, demanding the return of any commissions or fees paid to the company.

While Clarkson’s legal action seeks justice for the alleged unlicensed management and financial grievances, Blackstock’s defense, articulated by his attorney Bryan Freedman, frames the dispute in a personal context. Freedman criticized Clarkson’s attempt to reclaim commissions, highlighting the contributions Blackstock made to Clarkson’s career and their shared life, including the upbringing of their children.

Clarkson and Blackstock’s relationship, which began in 2006 and led to their marriage in 2013, has been marked by personal and professional entanglements. The deterioration of their marriage, culminating in a 2020 divorce filing, has been accompanied by contentious disputes over custody, support payments, and property ownership, including a protracted battle over a Montana ranch.

Amidst these personal disputes, the legal battle between Clarkson, Blackstock, and Starstruck underscores the complexities of talent management in the entertainment industry, particularly the implications of operating without a license.

This case not only reflects the intricacies of celebrity relationships but also highlights the legal safeguards in place to protect artists from potential exploitation. As the court proceedings continue, the entertainment industry and its observers await the outcome, which may set a precedent for how talent management disputes are resolved in the future.