Kelly Clarkson's then-husband told the Grammy-winning singer he wasn't sexually attractive enough to be her coach on “The Voice,” and NBC executives told her he wanted her to be a coach like Rihanna instead. He is said to have said he was looking for a “sexy person.”
Clarkson, 41, filed a claim with the California Labor Commission last year, which ultimately ruled. A judgment was given in favor of the singer. And he ordered her ex-manager, Brandon Blackstock, 47, to pay her $2.6 million for illegally procuring deals for talent agents.
The “Since You've Been Gone” singer had told Blackstock for years that she wanted to appear on “The Voice,” but the network's executives said she wanted to be “more like a sex symbol.” He testified that he advised her that he was not interested because he was “looking for a type.” Rihanna, according to court documents viewed by The Post.
Clarkson ultimately joined the show as a coach in 2018, during the talent competition's 14th season.
The singer also testified that her ex-husband allegedly told NBC, “I needed a black person.” She said…they had to have diversity,” she said, adding that she and her singer Blake Shelton (who was already a coach on the show) were “too similar.” said.
Asked by his lawyer Ed McPherson how he could remember the specific conversation, Clarkson said: “Well, I'll never forget when I was told that my wife wasn't a sex symbol, and that will always stay with me.'' “Yes,” he replied.
clarkson filed for divorce After about 7 years of marriage, they got married from Blackstock in June 2020.
Ex-couple finally settled their divorce In March 2022, after a bitter custody battle over custody of her 9-year-old daughter River Rose and 7-year-old son Remington “Remy” Alexander. their shared montana ranch.
In May 2017, before the marriage fell apart, Blackstock approached NBC executives with an offer and information they couldn't refuse. The deal was to sign Clarkson to “The Voice” or risk losing her to prime-time competitor “American Idol.”
Ms. Blackstock was approached in 2017 by two music agents from Creative Artists Agency who pressured NBC executives to negotiate with ABC for Ms. Clarkson to become a judge on “American Idol,'' where she first found fame. He testified that he was instructed to tell them that
Blackstock, along with CAA music agents Darryl Eaton and Rick Roskin, were on the grounds of NBC Universal Studios in Hollywood, where “The Voice” was being recorded in May 2017, at the time. He testified that he had met with Paul Telegdy, former chairman of NBC Entertainment.
Blackstock said his agents were told it would be better to approach Telegdy rather than NBC executives because they didn't want to deal with them.
“Critically and consistent with their negotiation strategy, Blackstock has informed Telegdy that American Idol intends to submit an offer to Clarkson,” Blackstock's attorneys Brian Friedman and Jesse Kaplan wrote in court documents reviewed by the Post.
“In response, Telegdy asked Blackstock: 'What would it take?' [to sign Clarkson to ‘The Voice]?'
Blackstock told Telegdy that it was “going to be somewhere around Blake.” [Shelton] money. “
Blackstock, who also managed Shelton, had access to the country singer's “The Voice” contract, according to court documents.
Mr. Blackstock claimed that Mr. Telegdy called him a second time and offered him millions of dollars, asking, “Will that work?'' To this, Blackstock replied, “Yes.”
“Shortly thereafter, Blackstock called Clarkson to break the news,” Blackstock's attorneys wrote. “Clarkson was so excited.”
NBCUniversal ended its partnership with Telegdy in August 2020. Hollywood Reporter investigation The former entertainment chairman has revealed allegations of racist, sexist, and racist behavior. Telegdy denies any wrongdoing.
The former NBCUniversal executive did not testify at the labor committee hearing involving Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Blackstock and his management company.
Although Mr. Eaton and Mr. Roskin were not called to testify before the California Labor Relations Board, Kat Carson, a veteran CAA official who specializes in alternative television programming, said that Mr. Clarkson's “The Voice'' contract He testified that he repeatedly asked him to participate in negotiations. ” but was blocked by Blackstock.
“I had asked many times since the early stages of negotiations for 'The Voice' to be involved, but Brandon said he wanted to do a solo career, and this was no different; he spoke directly to Paul. I said I want to talk to Lee Strauss. [then-NBC business affairs executive vice president of NBC’s alternative programming] In person,” Carson testified.
She didn't tell Blackstock that CAA didn't want him to call NBC executives because “he was my client's husband and I thought that's what the client wanted.” he added.
Mr. Carson also testified that it was unusual for Mr. Roskin and Mr. Eaton, who usually handle music tours, to be involved in television deals because it was Mr. Clarkson's job and expertise as an agent.
Meanwhile, the singer testified that she didn't know about the offer from “The Voice” until her ex-boyfriend brokered the deal himself.
Clarkson testified that Blackstock “told her many times that he got 'The Voice' for her” and was “proud of it.” She also testified that she did not know until the trial that CAA was receiving only 5% of the agent's commission instead of the usual 10% because Blackstock allegedly kept the rest of the money privately.
“To be fair to Mr. Blackstock, I was not involved financially,” Clarkson said on stage. “I've never been part of a business conversation. I've always been part of the creative side. But no, I've never heard of that before.”
McPherson said in court documents that Blackstock lied repeatedly on the stand and that CAA officials did not seek the former coach's help in brokering a deal with Clarkson.
The lawyers argued that there was no record that Eaton and Roskin were even on NBC property on the day of Blackstock's phone conversation with NBC executives.
Regardless of whether Mr. Blackstock received “coaching” from his CAA music agent, Mr. McPherson is not a licensed agent and therefore illegally negotiated “The Voice” contract and other business arrangements for his ex-wife. He said he mediated.
“Mr. Blackstock's story, especially the one on The Voice, changed several times during the week of the hearing, sometimes because of concrete evidence of contrary facts, and other times. was changed for no apparent reason,” McPherson wrote in court documents.
“If there is one theme throughout this case, it is that Brandon Blackstock is not a reliable witness on nearly every issue.”
California Labor Commissioner says Blackstock illegally booked not only “The Voice” contract but also television appearances on Norwegian Cruise Line, Wayfair and the Billboard Music Awards. He agreed to overcharge by $2,641,374 and was sentenced in November.
Blackstock subsequently appealed this decision.
