File this one under unlikely beefs.<\/p>\n
Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn-based novelty store have been going back and forth on social media all weekend. Why?<\/p>\n
It all started on Saturday when Clarkson took to X to recount how she was treated at the store, called Art of Play, and felt the staff had been disrespectful.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn\u2019t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me,\u201d the \u201cAmerican Idol\u201d star wrote.<\/p>\n
She continued, \u201cWow, dude. You\u2019re an idiot and just lost a huge sale. But y\u2019all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts\u2019 character in \u2018Pretty Woman.\u2019 For sure, check it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarkson\u2019s post drew millions of views and the attention of the store itself.<\/p>\n
Art of Play responded on Sunday, Oct. 11, writing that the item Clarkson had been interested in, \u201cMolly,\u201d a, per the store, \u201cone-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMolly is permanently attached to the wall and isn\u2019t for sale. However, the negative experience Kelly described on twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt 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 \u2018pick things up and play.\u2019 And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys,\u201d their post continued.<\/p>\n
Things get cheeky as they further addressed Clarkson\u2019s post, writing, \u201cImagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store. It\u2019s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The store thanked their friends for the support and for the people who suddenly showed an interest in the store.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to keep our heads down and hopefully, we can clear things up with Kelly someday. As a talented popular singer once said \u2018what doesn\u2019t kill you makes you stronger,\u2019\u201d they concluded.<\/p>\n
But Clarkson wasn\u2019t done. She shared a photo someone sent her of Molly with a price tag on her Instagram stories and further fired back on the next slide.<\/p>\n
“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale,” she wrote. “That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with. 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.’ That all never happened and now it’s not for sale.”<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you\u2019re not only rude, you\u2019re also a liar. Got it,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Clarkson made it clear she supports small businesses because \u201cI was literally at a small business trying to purchase things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you don\u2019t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business,\u201d she wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added, \u201cYour store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Art of Play fired back Monday, claiming they explained<\/a> that while Molly was not for sale, a \u201cnearly identical automaton\u201d owned by the creator was and that it was available for the aforementioned $15,000. They also say they had a different \u201csinging bird automaton\u201d made in Germany that was available that day. \u201cShe did not stick around long enough to see it,\u201d the shop said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve reached out to Kelly directly to try and clear the air. We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding,\u201d they wrote.<\/p>\n No response from Kelly as of midday Monday, but who knows how long this beef over amechanical bird??? (Yep. A mechanical bird!) will go on.<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram @WeArePauseRewind<\/a> for all your pop culture obsessions.<\/p>\n