The dispute between Kelly Clarkson and the Brooklyn retailer Art of Play has intensified after the singer accused the shop of treating her like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman. She said she visited the store on Saturday and felt dismissed by a staff member.
She posted on X, “I drove all the way to Brooklyn to browse a shop I thought looked cool, intending to buy a few items, only to be stared at as if I couldn’t afford anything and told the employee could suggest a more affordable alternative.”
Art of Play clarified that Clarkson had attempted to buy Molly, an animatronic singing bird that was not for sale; later photos showed the piece priced at $15,000. She replied, “You’re not only rude, you’re also a liar.” The store said it had tried to resolve the misunderstanding, but tensions remain.
The shop’s owners have spoken to the press, saying Clarkson’s posts have triggered a wave of online harassment. Co‑owner Adam Rubin told USA Today that the store’s phone and email have been overwhelmed with threatening messages, and he announced that Molly is now listed for sale at $15 million.
“We fear for our staff’s safety,” Rubin said. “Kelly Clarkson has endangered us.”
He also claimed Clarkson rebuked an employee as she left. “Nothing in the store warranted her scolding our staff member, but I could overlook it—everyone has off days,” Rubin said. “The situation shifted when she turned her platform against us; it’s become an asymmetrical social conflict.”
On Tuesday, journalist Pablo Torre posted video of Clarkson’s visit to Art of Play. The clip has no audio but captures her examining Molly and talking with an employee; she is seen pulling out her phone as she exits. The footage indicates she posted on X just 15 minutes after leaving the store.
Rubin noted Clarkson was in the store for under five minutes. “Had this tweetstorm not erupted, we wouldn’t have noticed any negative exchange; it was quite minor,” he said. “We treated her like any other customer, but apparently that fell short of her expectations.”
He added, “Let me be clear: no one who has actually visited the shop is siding with Kelly Clarkson.”
Clarkson has not yet responded.
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