{"id":371902,"date":"2026-10-13T12:31:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T12:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/371902\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T12:31:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T12:31:42","slug":"kelly-clarkson-slams-brooklyn-store-business-defends-itself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/371902\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelly Clarkson Slams Brooklyn Store, Business Defends Itself"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tAfter Kelly Clarkson<\/a> took to X<\/a> on Saturday to share her experience \u201cbeing treated like Julia Roberts\u201d in \u201cPretty Woman\u201d during a visit to Art of Play, a novelty shop in Brooklyn, the local business is responding to her claims, saying it has received \u201cwidespread outrage\u201d since and explaining that the item she wanted to buy \u2014 a bird permanently fixed to the store\u2019s wall\u2013 was not actually for sale.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn her initial tweet, which has garnered nearly 260,000 likes and 32.2 million views, the singer wrote that she had driven to the store, which she thought \u201clooked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy.\u201d She continued, writing that she \u201cliterally was looked at as if I couldn\u2019t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. You\u2019re an idiot and just lost a huge sale.\u201d She then named the store and told her fans to visit if they \u201cenjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman,\u201d accompanied by a thumbs-down emoji.<\/p>\n

\n\tOn Sunday, the business posted a multi-slide carousel to the store\u2019s Instagram<\/a> account sharing their side of the story. They began by clarifying that the item Clarkson inquired about purchasing was \u201ca one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here.\u201d \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 the caption read. (In a Feb. 2025 Instagram post\u2019s caption<\/a>, the business wrote that Molly is the store\u2019s \u201cbeloved shop bird\u201d and \u201cmascot,\u201d and she is one of the few items in Art of Play that has a \u201cDo Not Touch\u201d sign.)<\/p>\n

\n\tThe business continued to note that \u201cwhether 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<\/p>\n

\n\tArt of Play also acknowledged the significant backlash they\u2019ve been receiving since Clarkson\u2019s statement, before quoting the singer and concluding the message.<\/p>\n

\n\t\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. Thanks to all our friends for their support and welcome to all the curious folks who have discovered us amidst the drama. We\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.’\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tFollowing Art of Play\u2019s posts, a seemingly skeptical Clarkson responded with another post to X that reads: \u201cCool, cool. Sure, it wasn\u2019t for sale. That\u2019s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with \ud83d\udc4d 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\u2019t happen as you elevator eyed me saying in a condescending tone \u2018yes, it\u2019s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars so if you\u2019d like me to find something comparable for you I can.’\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tShe continued: \u201cThat all never happened and now it\u2019s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you\u2019re not only rude, you\u2019re also a liar.\u201d The singer explained that while she \u201cobviously\u201d supports small businesses, they \u201cdon\u2019t get a free pass to treat people less than.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s not that hard to be kind,\u201d she concluded. \u201cI never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren\u2019t.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n\tIn a seeming effort to lay the matter to rest, the store responded to her message<\/a>, reiterating that the mechanical bird in question is permanently attached to the wall, but the artist has a \u201ctwin\u201d that is available for $15,000, however a similar model was available in the store for $2,000. \u201cShe did not stick around long enough to see it,\u201d they added. <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWe\u2019ve reached out to Kelly directly to try and clear the air,\u201d the post concludes. \u201cWe really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tSee the full posts below. <\/p>\n

Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn\u2019t for sale. That\u2019s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with \ud83d\udc4d 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\u2019t happen as you elevator eyed me\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/9PEhUWnIOt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Just 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. Wow, dude. You\u2019re an idiot and just lost a\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n