Kelly Clarkson is feuding with an independent shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., after accusing an employee of giving her the Pretty Woman treatment and refusing to sell her an expensive singing bird, which the store maintains wasn’t for sale.
Clarksonwrote on X Saturday that she drove to Brooklyn Heights to visit the shop, Art of Play, intending to buy “a few things.” But during her visit she says she was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford it” and was told by an employee they could find “something comparable” for her to purchase.
“Y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman,” she added, referencing a memorable scene in the 1990 romantic comedy in which Roberts’s character, Vibecause of her appearance
Responding to Clarkson’s accusation, the store posted on Instagramon Sunday, saying that the item she asked about was a “one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird” named Molly, which is used in its magic shows. The store said the fixture was “permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale.”
Art of Play, which specializes in unusual games, puzzles, curiosities and also hosts magic shows in a hidden theater, said it was “surreal” to be the focus of “such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” the shop said.
Clarkson disputed the store’s explanation, sharing an image that she said showed a $15,000 price tag on the bird.”Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” shewrote on X.
In afollow-up statement on Instagram, the shop offered further details, saying it had explained to Clarkson that a “nearly identical automaton” could be purchased directly from the artist for $15,000.
“We explained all of this to Kelly Clarkson,” the store said. “We also offered to show her a different singing bird automaton, made by a traditional clockmaking shop in Germany, that she could have taken home with her that day. It costs about $2,000. She did not stick around long enough to see it.”The dispute has divided social media users, with some accusing the shop of lying about whether the mechanical bird was for sale.
Food podcast host Joey Camasta commented on the store’s Instagram post: “I was literally there in August and saw Molly, there was a price tag on it. It most definitely was for sale.”
One commentercriticized the store’s response: “Their ‘apology’ was not only dishonest, it was so patronising and passive-aggressive that it gave us all a taste of what you experienced, and further proved your point. Rancid.”
AnotherX user, Nigel Carreiro, wrote: “since u been gone the $15,000 price tag has also mysteriously disappeared.”
Others questioned Clarkson’s take, accusing her of doubling down on naming and shaming an independent business.
“It seems as though someone tried to purchase a thing that was not for sale, they were re-directed to an alternative…and then stormed out and made a negative social media post about a small business,”another commenter wrote.
Others pointed to a social media post from Art of Play from a month earlier outlining that the bird wasn’t for sale.
Yahoo has reached out to both parties for comment.
Clarkson moved from Los Angeles to New York City in 2023, relocating The Kelly Clarkson Show there. She announced in February that the show would end after seven seasons, with its final episode airing in August, the same month her Las Vegas residency concluded. Clarkson is currently appearing as a coach on Season 30 of The Voice.
Clarkson’s dispute follows a number of high-profile clashes between celebrities and businesses. In 2016, Zendayaaccused a grocery store employee of treating her unfairly while she was trying to purchase gift cards, saying she believed the encounter was racially motivated. In 2005, Oprah Winfrey criticized luxury retailer Hermès, alleging she was turned away from its Paris store 15 minutes after closing time, despite her account that other shoppers were still inside. The CEO of Hermès USA later apologized on her show, describing the employee who turned her away as “very, very rigid.”
