Brooklyn specialty shop Art of Play has responded after singer Kelly Clarkson accused the store of treating her “like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman.”
Art of Play posted a statement on its Instagram page after Clarkson tweeted on Oct. 10 that she visited the store, with her eye on a few items but instead was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford it.”
Clarkson added that she “was told he could find something comparable for me.”
“Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” Clarkson wrote on X, before naming the New York City store.
The small business responded on Oct. 11, saying in a statement that Clarkson had attempted to buy a permanent installation that is not for sale.
“Yesterday, Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here,” the store wrote on its social media page. “Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale. However, the negative experience Kelly described on twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop.”
The store, which wrote that it had become the subject of backlash after Clarkson’s post, thanked those who supported it.
“Thanks to all our friends for their support and welcome to all the curious folks who have discovered us amidst the drama,” Art of Play wrote in the statement, before referencing Clarkson’s hit song. “We’re going to keep our heads down and hopefully, we can clear things up with Kelly someday. As a talented popular singer once said ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’”
Clarkson did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment. But in another post on X, Clarkson challenged the store’s statement, describing the staff as “not only rude, you’re also a liar.”
“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with 👍” Clarkson wrote on the social media platform Oct. 11.
The singer then continued with her version of events.
“So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen as you elevator eyed me saying in a condescending tone ‘yes, it’s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can.’” she wrote in the post, appearing to convey sarcasm. “That all never happened and now it’s not for sale.”
The singer also hit back at criticisms that she doesn’t support small businesses.
“You don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business,” she wrote. “It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.”
She concluded by saying, “Your store is really cool.”
“Unfortunately, you aren’t,” she wrote.
Art of Play did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment on Clarkson’s Oct. 11 post. The store, however, shared a follow-up post to its Instagram early Oct. 12 in an effort to “clarify one additional detail about Kelly Clarkson’s visit.”
“During the 5 minutes she spent in the store, she inquired about our mechanical bird puppet named Molly,” the Oct. 12 post from Art of Play said. “We explained that while Molly is permanently attached to the wall and serves as a de facto mascot for our shop, a nearly identical automaton is owned by the creator of the machines, a brilliant artist named Bliss Kolb who lives in Seattle. He told us he would be willing to part with Molly’s twin for $15,000.”
The store said employees offered to show her another option for a singing bird that was available to take home that day for $2,000 but Clarkson “did not stick around long enough to see it.”
Art of Play said it reached out to the singer directly to “clear the air.”
Art of Play, which sits in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights, is a specialty store that features home goods in addition to magic-themed gifts, cards and games.
In her post, Clarkson said that she “drove all the way to Brooklyn” to take a peek at the store, already with a few things in mind to purchase. She compared her experience to that of Julia Roberts’ “Pretty Woman” character Vivian Ward when she is brushed off by a Beverly Hills salesperson who assumes she can’t afford the expensive items in the store because of her casual appearance.
Art of Play said in the statement that the store invites all shoppers to play with their items.
“And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys,” the store said.
The criticisms they’ve been receiving have taken them by surprise, the store said in the statement.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” the statement said. “It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”
The bird automaton appears to have not been available for purchase in the past. Several weeks ago, the store had made a post about their “favorite items not for sale,” featuring an image of the bird automaton.
Since the parties’ comments, the internet has been divided with Clarkson’s fans flocking to the store’s pages to express their disappointment. Many others, including New York locals, have been commenting as well, sharing their positive experiences with the shop.
