A shopping trip has turned into a very public standoff between Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn store, Art of Play. The dispute took a sharper turn after the shop responded to her complaint and she responded within hours. At the centre of it all is a $15,000 price tag and a disagreement over whether an item was ever for sale.
Kelly Clarkson claps back at Brooklyn Store’s apology over $15K bird controversy
Kelly Clarkson first posted about her visit on X, writing that she had driven to Brooklyn to see a store she thought looked “really rad.” She said she was “looked at as if [she] couldn’t afford it” and was told an associate could find something comparable. The singer added, “You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale.” Clarkson also compared her treatment to that of the Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman.
The Brooklyn store, Art of Play, responded on Instagram the next day. They said Clarkson had asked about “Molly,” a one-of-a-kind singing-and-dancing bird automaton used in their magic shows. They also explained that Molly is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale.
The statement further acknowledged her complaint. Her experience, the store wrote, “would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop.” Art of Play added that every visitor is welcome, whether they buy or simply browse. The store also mentioned being targeted by “8 million people who have never visited our store.”
Clarkson did not let it rest. In a follow-up post, she disputed the store’s version of events. She said she asked whether the item was for sale while pointing to a price tag with the title of the “Singing Bird.” The singer also claimed that the associate replied that it was for sale, but that it cost $15,000, and offered to find something comparable. “So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar,” added the “Since U Been Gone” singer.
The 44-year-old also addressed the small-business angle directly. “It’s not that hard to be kind,” she wrote, adding that being a small business is no excuse for treating customers poorly. She closed with: “Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”
The exchange between the host of The Kelly Clarkson Show and the Brooklyn store has drawn heavy attention. The store thanked supporters and said it hopes to “clear things up with Kelly someday.”
