Kelly Clarkson‘s dispute with Brooklyn store Art of Play has taken another dramatic turn. One of the shop’s co-owners claimed the singer’s recent social media posts led to direct threats against staff. The controversy began after Clarkson accused a Brooklyn curiosity shop employee of treating her poorly when she tried to buy a mechanical bird.
Since then, both sides have publicly defended their versions of events, with the dispute sparking a divided response online.
Brooklyn store Art of Play co-owner shares repercussions of Kelly Clarkson’s social media rant
Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin told TMZ that the past few days have been “stressful” after Clarkson’s posts drew widespread attention to the store.
He claimed employees have received online abuse and threats from some of the singer’s supporters, while even people defending the business have faced hostile comments.
The disagreement started after Clarkson posted on X that she felt she had been judged while shopping at Art of Play. She claimed an employee suggested finding her “something comparable” after she asked about a mechanical singing bird, comparing the experience to “Pretty Woman.”
The store later responded on Instagram, saying that the bird, named Molly, is a permanent fixture in its magic shows and was never available for purchase.
The business added that staff offered to show Clarkson an alternative model priced around $2,000. They also explained that she could purchase a similar automaton directly from its creator for $15,000.
Clarkson pushed back in a follow-up post, alleging the bird displayed a $15,000 price tag. She also accused the employee of speaking to her in a condescending tone. She maintained that she supports small businesses but said they should still treat customers with respect.
Meanwhile, Rubin said he hopes to move past the disagreement and even invited Clarkson to attend one of the shop’s adults-only magic shows. As the back-and-forth continues, the incident has divided social media, with some users backing Clarkson’s account while others have rallied behind Art of Play and its employees.
