Brandon Blackstock has come after his ex Kelly Clarkson's recent legal action.
According to a new report, Blackstock has refuted every allegation made by his former wife and contended that the filing should be dismissed due to the labor commissioner's ruling in November 2023.
Brandon Blackstock Is Not Backing Down From Kelly Clarkson's Lawsuit Without A Fight
Blackstock has addressed Clarkson's lawsuit, in which she asserted that he should compensate her beyond the $2.6 million determined by a California labor commissioner.
In his rebuttal, Blackstock alleged that Clarkson should have filed a notice of appeal within the required ten-day window after making the initial decision. Thus, she was now prohibited from seeking more than the $2.6 million determined.
The 47-year-old and his legal team claimed in documents obtained by Page Six that filing a separate lawsuit now falls outside the proper jurisdiction.
The documents stated that any supposed gains from operating as an "unlicensed talent agency" for the TV personality have already been partially or fully disbursed to Clarkson and Blackstock's shared assets.
Additionally, the documents contended that Clarkson's complaint against Starstruck lacks sufficient factual basis to form a legal claim and is consequently dismissed for failure to meet the required standards.
The 'AGT' Alum Asked For Every Penny Blackstock Illegally Made On Her Behalf
Recall that Clarkson initiated a new lawsuit against Blackstock after the commissioner determined that he and his family's company, Starstruck Entertainment, breached California's Talent Agencies Act. They had broken the rules by securing employment for the songwriter without proper licensing.
The labor commissioner stated that Blackstock should not have been involved in the pop star's agreements for the Billboard Music Awards, "The Voice," Wayfair, and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
As The Blast reported in March when Clarkson filed the complaint, the legal papers read:
"Based on the wrongful acts and conduct of Starstruck … all agreements between the parties should be declared void and unenforceable … and all monies previously paid by cross-complainants to Starstruck should be disgorged from Starstruck, forthwith."
For compensation, Clarkson demanded that her estranged husband and former talent agency return all profits they earned. These profits include commissions, fees, profits, advances, producing fees, or any other monetary gains.
Blackstock’s Legal Representative Spoke Up On His Behalf
Shortly after the "Since U Been Gone" hitmaker filed the lawsuit, Blackstock's attorney, Bryan Freedman, publicly rose to his defense.Highlighting that the funds were used for the family's necessities, Freedman stated:
"It is morally, ethically, and legally wrong to attempt to get monies back from your ex-husband who not only helped her as her manager but who used those earnings on their children and Kelly and Brandon's lifestyle during the marriage."
It is worth noting that Clarkson only filed her complaints in response to Starstruck Entertainment's lawsuit against her in 2020. At the time, Starstruck sought $1.4 million in unpaid commissions for the author's roles on "The Voice" and "The Kelly Clarkson Show."
Blackstock Instructed To Return Previously Earned Commissions
Regarding the $2.6 million settlement issued in December 2023, The Blast outlined that Blackstock's business dealings on Clarkson's behalf fell outside of his managerial duties. The deals were instead handled as those of a talent agent.
Hence, he was directed to return all the commissions he received to compensate for the losses caused by his unauthorized actions.
The manager reportedly earned $1.98 million in commissions for Clarkson's appearance on "The Voice," a stark comparison to the $93.30 he received for her Billboard Music Awards hosting duties.
Meanwhile, the "American Idol" Winner's attempt to reclaim the commission paid to Blackstock for securing "The Kelly Clarkson Show" was dismissed by the labor commissioner.
The total amount Blackstock was ordered to pay was $2,641,374.
Kelly Clarkson's Latest Album Was Inspired By Her Marital Problems
Besides having to reimburse his ex's commissions, the talent manager gained attention for inspiring Clarkson's ninth studio album.
The pop-rock icon confirmed her plans to release new music in 2023 in a 2022 interview, where she mentioned that the album's songs reflected her emotions about her divorce from Blackstock. In her words:
"I'm working on this in therapy: I have a hard time vocalizing what I'm feeling sometimes, so music is helpful for me. It's just been healing. I recorded the record quite some time ago."
Clarkson continued to discuss her divorce, revealing that she coped with her turbulent emotions by recording 25 songs in a week and maintaining a busy schedule.
