Kelly Clarkson’s Ex Brandon Blackstock Must Pay Her over $2.6 Million for ‘Unlawfully Procured’ Business Deals

Brandon Blackstock helped arrange several business deals for his ex-wife Kelly Clarkson while serving as her manager — but he shouldn’t have, a California labor commissioner has ruled.

Earlier this month, Clarkson won her latest legal battle against Blackstock. According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, he was ordered to pay her $2,641,374 for exceeding his managerial role and illegally obtaining work that should have been performed by a talent agent. His legal team appealed the verdict.

The lawsuit filed by Clarkson, 41, alleges that Blackstock, 46, secured the Grammy winner contracts with Vote, The Kelly Clarkson ShowNorwegian Cruise Line, Wayfair and Board Music awards and received royalties in return.

Kelly Clarkson. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Relationship Timeline

While Blackstock was adjudged not to have crossed the line as a manager with The Kelly Clarkson Show of the contract, according to the documents, the other four jobs were to be done by Clarkson’s team from the Creative Artists agency.

“Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency licence, cannot secure or attempt to secure the employment of an artist,” the ruling said.

The documents state that Blackstock was paid a commission for each of Clarkson’s aforementioned appearances, including $1,983,155.70 for her contract as a coach at Vote$208,125 for a promotional deal with NCL, $450,000 for a collaboration with Wayfair and $93.30 for her multi-year deal as Board The host of the music awards — it all has to be returned to the “Miss Independent” singer now.

Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson.

Kevin Mazur/Getty

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Representatives for Clarkson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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Clarkson and Blackstock were married for nearly seven years before she filed for divorce in June 2020, which was finalized two years later. The couple shares two children: daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander. (Blackstock is also the father of a son, Seth, and a daughter, Savannah, from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth.)

Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock, Remington Alexander Blackstock and Seth Blackstock. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

During the March episode of Angie Martinez’s IDP podcast, Clarkson talked about how her divorce affected their children.

“I literally ask my kids every night as we curl up in bed, ‘Are you happy? And if you’re not, what could make you happier?'” she said at the time. “A lot of times he’ll say, ‘You know, I’m really sad. I wish mom and dad were in the same house.'”

Clarkson added: “They’re really honest about it. I get it. I’m from a divorced family too. It’s bullshit.”

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Source: HIS Education