Kelly Clarkson’s five-minute shopping trip to Brooklyn sparked a feud with millions of views on social media as she accused a novelty store of treating her like Julia Roberts’ character in “Pretty Woman” – a $15,000 mechanical songbird.
On Saturday, Clarkson visited Art of Play, a high-end store on Atlantic Avenue, and said an employee looked at her as if she couldn’t afford the store’s merchandise.
“I was just driving to Brooklyn to look at this store and thought it looked really cool and wanted to buy something,” Clarkson wrote on X. She added that an employee offered to find her some similar items.
Just drove to Brooklyn to check out this store, I thought it looked really cool and wanted to buy something, but they actually looked like I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something similar for me. Wow, man. You are an idiot and just lost a huge sale. But if you like being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman, then you all should check out Brooklyn’s Art of Play. It’s true, please check it out 👎
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026
“Wow man. You are such an idiot and just lost a big deal,” she wrote, advising others to visit the store if they like to be treated like Roberts’ character in the 1990 movie.
The object at the center of the controversy is Molly, a yellow mechanical bird that is mounted on the store wall and used in magic shows.
This is the bird Kelly Clarkson wants to buy 😭
— 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆🫧💚 (@beyoncegarden) October 11, 2026
Art of Play responded on Sunday that Molly was permanently affixed to the wall and was not for sale, although it acknowledged that Clarkson’s account of the encounter would resonate with anyone who has felt judged while shopping.
“Imagine our surprise when our small, local business is suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never been to one of our stores,” the business wrote on Instagram, describing the backlash as a “surreal experience.”
Clarkson disputed that explanation, saying she was referring to the $15,000 price tag and was told the bird was available for purchase. She accused the employee of looking her up and down before offering to give her something similar.
“So not only are you rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” Clarkson wrote.
Cool, cool. Of course, it’s not for sale. This is the narrative of The Art of Games 👍, so when I pointed to the price tag hanging on the wall titled The Singing Bird and asked you if it was for sale, the entire conversation we had didn’t happen because you looked at me with the elevator and said in a condescending tone, “Yes, it’s for sale, but for 15,000 So if you have never found anything like this, this has never happened to you, so if you have never found anything like it now, nothing like it has ever been sold to you, now you have never found it. Okay, so not only are you rude, but you are also a liar ✅ Got it.
BTW, I obviously support small businesses because I was actually at a small business trying to buy something. 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 you would in your store just because you are a small business. It’s not hard to be kind. I never attack others, but you my friend are an exception.
Your store is really cool.
Unfortunately, you are not.— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026
Art of Play said in a subsequent statement that a nearly identical bird made by Seattle artist Bliss Kolb sold for $15,000. The store also said it offered Clarkson a German-made replacement for $2,000, but she left before seeing it.
The company said it had contacted Clarkson privately in hopes of resolving the disagreement.
Its initial response ended with a pointed reference to one of the singer’s biggest hits. “As a talented pop star once said, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,'” the store wrote.
Clarkson’s original post had been viewed more than 40 million times as of Monday morning, according to the New York Times. The controversy has divided social media users between those sympathetic to Clarkson’s experience and those who believe her massive platform has sparked an undue backlash against small businesses.
Clarkson rejected suggestions that supporting small businesses meant ignoring poor treatment.
“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 you would in your store just because you are a small business,” she wrote. “It’s not that hard to be a kind person.”
Art of Play said it had contacted Clarkson privately in the hope of resolving the dispute.
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