Kelly Clarkson fires back at Brooklyn novelty shop, escalating feud over animatronic bird
Kelly ClarksonCredit: NBC via GettyAfter an allegedly negative encounter at the Brooklyn Art of Play location, Clarkson slammed the retailer as “rude” in her ongoing social media war.Key Points
Kelly Clarkson called a Brooklyn novelty shop “rude” in a post shared to several of her social media accounts.
On Saturday, Clarkson alleged that a sales associate at Brooklyn’s Art of Play was rude to her, and the shop responded publicly by stating the item she inquired after was not for sale and noting that all visitors are “equally welcome,” whether or not they make a purchase.
Clarkson responded by claiming there was a price tag, asserting that the store did not “get a free pass to treat people less than,” and claimed, “Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”
Kelly Clarkson isn’t backing off her feud with a Brooklyn-based novelty shop.
The whole saga began on Saturday, when Clarkson alleged that she had a negative experience with a sales associate at the Brooklyn Heights location of Art of Play, a novelty shop founded in San Diego. The American Idol winner kept her complaint vague, but noted that she “had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it.”
Art of Play responded publicly the following day, explaining that Clarkson had her eye on “‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton” that is “permanently attached to the wall” and not for sale. “However,” the store continued, “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.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 milli who have never visited our store,” the store went on to say. “It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity. We’re going to keep our heads down and hopefully, we can clear things up with Kelly someday.”
After Clarkson’s latest post, that doesn’t seem like it will happen all too soon.
Kelly Clarkson on InstagramCredit: Kelly Clarkson/Instagram
“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with,” Clarkson’s latest post began. She then expounded on her account of the alleged encounter. “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.’”
Clarkson shared the post to both X and her Instagram stories on Sunday, reaching a combined count of 16.9 million followers. She also shared a snippet of a post from a fan that purported to contain an image of the price tag in question.
“That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it ✅ And by the way, I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things,” Clarkson continued. “I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business.”
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Clarkson and Art of Play for comment.
In closing, Clarkson wrote, “It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”
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Clarkson on season 6 of ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty
In her initial post, Clarkson blasted the sales associate as an “idiot” who “just lost a huge sale.” She also joked, “Y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman.”
The singer and talk show host referenced the iconic scene from Julia Roberts’ 1990 dramedy in which her post-makeover escort Vivian returns to an upscale Beverly Hills boutique to shame the sales associates who previously treated her as, in Clarkson’s words, “less than.”
Source: Entertainment
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