Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband allegedly told her she wasn’t s3xy enough for The Voice
Kelly Clarkson secured a role as a judge on The Voice, but not without pushback from NBC executives. Her ex-husband claimed she wasn’t ‘s3xy enough’ to appeal to the network
Kelly Clarkson claimed that her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock said she didn’t have the sex appeal to make it on The Voice as a judge.
Following their brutal 2020 divorce, Kelly and Brandon continued to be locked in litigation as she raised a flag to the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. While they were married, Brandon oversaw much of Kelly’s career in a managerial position. After expressing her desire to be on The Voice, she claimed Brandon told her she wasn’t s3xy enough for the job.
Additionally, Kelly claimed he overstepped his duties when he secured her gigs. According to the musician, that was the role of her talent agents, not her manager. She alleged that Brandon collected fees on the contracts she signed. A labor commissioner affirmed Kelly’s claims and ruled in her favor.
Kelly accused her ex-husband of over stepping in his job (Image: Getty Images for NARAS)
While she did join the judge’s panel in 2018, Kelly testified that Brandon told her NBC executives were “looking for a more sex symbol type,” per documents viewed by the New York Post. According to the star, Brandon said the network wanted someone more like Rihanna.
Plus, she claimed he told her the network was also worried about Kelly being too similar to longtime The Voice judge Blake Shelton given their similar country stardom status. Kelly also added that she was told NBC “had to have someone that was black. … They had to have a diverse thing.”
When doubt was thrown her way and her attorney was questioned on how Kelly was able to remember this conversation years later. Lawyer Ed McPherson said: “Well, a wife doesn’t forget a time she gets told she’s not a sex symbol, so that stays.”
They diced out the terms of their co-parenting during their divorce (Image: Variety via Getty Images)
She later claimed Brandon told her that NBC executives didn’t find her “s3xy” enough for The Voice (Image: Variety via Getty Images)
According to Brandon, he did make efforts to secure Kelly a spot on The Voice, but to do so he put pressure on NBC. He said he claimed to executives that she was considering joining their competitors at American Idol instead if The Voice didn’t give her an offer.
He insisted that while doing so, he was under the mentorship of CAA music agents Darryl Eaton and Rick Roskin. Brandon’s lawyers said in the court documents: “Critically and consistent with their negotiation strategy, Blackstock informed [an NBC executive] that American Idol would be submitting an offer to Clarkson.”
While the deal was eventually secured, that same executive NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy was revealed by the Hollywood Reporter to have allegations of sexism, racism, and more against him. While he denied wrongdoing, NBC gave him the boot.
