Kelly Clarkson’s estranged husband Brandon Blackstock fires back at claims he defrauded her in filings with California Labor Commission

• The American Idol alum claimed her ex had performed ‘illegal services’ and padded her invoices with exorbitant charges in filings to the California Labor Commission last October
• Blackstock and father Narvel’s lawyers say they are not subject to California’s Talent Agencies Act
• They also say a one-year statute of limitations on TAA violations would limit Kelly’s ability to get restitution for the commissions
• Kelly’s lawyer believes she is entitled to all of the money as well as other ‘things of value’ that Brandon was paid while acting as her agent
• Clarkson and Blackstock separated in June 2020 after seven years of marriage
• Kelly was awarded primary physical custody of their two children last year

Kelly Clarkson’s estranged husband Brandon Blackstock is defending himself after his ex claimed he and his father Narvel Blackstock had defrauded her out of millions.

The talent agent, 44, responded to the singer’s claims in docs filed with the California Labor Commission last November, a month after Kelly made her initial arguments to the commission.

Blackstock thoroughly denied Clarkson’s accusations that he and his father has scammed the artist by tacking exorbitant fees onto his company Starstruck Entertainment’s bills in documents obtained by Us Weekly

But Brandon’s attorneys Bryan J. Freedman and Jesse A. Kaplan argued that they are not subject to California’s Talent Agencies Act because they did not perform their work in the Golden State.

Kelly’s lawyer Edwin McPherson believes that the American Idol alum is entitled to all of the money as well as other ‘things of value’ that Brandon was paid while acting as her agent.

The Blackstocks’ legal representation further claimed any alleged violations that there is a one-year statute of limitations in the Talent Agencies Act, meaning even if Clarkson could prove her accusations it’s possible for his lawyers to argue she can only claim commissions paid within the year prior to her October 2020 filing.

Blackstock is asking for Clarkson’s petition to be dismissed and for her to pay his legal fees.

Clarkson and Blackson’s legal battle began when father-in-law Narvel Blackstock filed a lawsuit against her last October with allegations she still owed them $1.5 million in commissions, on top of another $4 million she was set to pay them as a result of her judging role on The Voice.

Kelly then countersued, asking the agreement to be voided, a refund for all past payments made by Clarkson, and a stop to any further payments to the company.

‘Based on the wrongful acts and conduct of [Starstruck Management and the Blackstocks] … all agreements between the parties, should be declared void and unenforceable, no monies should be paid by Petitioners to Respondents, and all monies previously paid by Petitioners to Respondents should be disgorged from Respondents, forthwith,’ the petition reads. 

Clarkson’s petition claims Starstruck demanded ‘unconscionable fees and compensation… for illegal services’, acted ‘in conflict of interest with the best interest of Petitioners’, and gave ‘false information’.

The petition also alleges Starstruck made ‘false representations to and/or concealing material information from [Clarkson] concerning certain matters relating to [Starstruck’s] engagement’, which was ‘in violation of Section 1700.32 of the California Labor Code.’

Clarkson also alleges the company failed the get her written approval to act as her agent. 

Bryan Freedman, a lawyer for Starstruck, told TMZ of the filing: ‘The labor petition conveniently ignores the fact that Kelly had her own licensed talent agency CAA at all times. While Starstruck Management Group provided talent management services on her behalf, it did so at all times that CAA was her agency of record.’

‘It is unfortunate that Kelly is again attempting to avoid paying commissions that are due and owing to Starstruck to try and achieve some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.’  

The legal battle is just the latest development amid Kelly’s ongoing divorce from Brandon.

After seven years of marriage and two children together, the couple separated in summer of 2020.

Kelly married Brandon at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee in 2013, and together they welcomed daughter River Rose, six, and son Remington Alexander, four.

Kelly has since been awarded primary physical custody of their two children.

The judge’s ruling on custody prompted Blackstock to file additional legal documents Monday seeking $436,000-a-month in support payments from Clarkson.

He is asking for $301,000 in spousal support and $135,000 in child support, according to TMZ.

He also requested that his soon-to-be ex-wife cover $2 million in legal fees.