The post quickly went viral, prompting criticism of the store from many of Clarkson’s followers.
Singer Kelly Clarkson accused toy store staff of treating her like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman. Photo / Getty Images
The fallout soon spread to the toy store’s reviews, which held a 4.7-star rating on Google before the controversy. It has now been hit by a wave of one-star reviews that appeared to reference Clarkson’s allegations.
Many riffed on the Pretty Woman theme, joking that they had been told they were too poor to shop there or had been directed elsewhere because they could not afford the products.
Art of Play has now responded publicly, offering a different account of the incident.
The store said Clarkson asked about buying “Molly”, a singing and dancing bird automaton permanently attached to a wall and used in magic shows hosted at the store.
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale.
“The negative experience Kelly described on Twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop.
“At Art of Play, whether someone comes in to make a purchase or simply look around for a while, they are equally welcome.
“We greet everyone who walks in the door with the invitation to ‘pick things up and play.’ And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by eight million people who have never visited our store. It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”
The store added it hopes to clear up the misunderstanding with Clarkson.
After the dispute, local customers have rallied behind the business, describing staff as friendly and welcoming. The Daily Mail also reported that police attended the area following a report of a disorderly person, although it was unclear whether the incident was directly connected to the controversy.
Clarkson has since doubled down on her account, accusing the store of rewriting events after the backlash erupted.
In her follow-up post, the singer rejected the store’s claim that the item was never for sale, saying she had asked about a mechanical bird displayed on a wall beside what she believed was a price tag listing it at US$15,000 ($26,749).
Clarkson alleged a staff member looked her “up and down” before telling her the item was available but suggesting he could find “something comparable” instead.