Kelly Clarkson blasted the clerk of a New York City boutique as a ‘rude liar’ after she was refused a piece of merchandise before being told it was not for sale.
Indeed, at the center of the controversy is a tiny, wooden yellow bird permanently affixed to the wall of the quirky design store.
The beloved shop mascot named Molly is ‘a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here,’ Brooklyn-based Art of Play wrote online. Clarkson, it said, had inquired about buying the elaborate and deeply sentimental not-for-sale item – and was refused.
After her Saturday visit, the American Idol winner, 44, publicly tore into Art of Play, claiming that she had traveled all the way to Brooklyn, roughly half an hour, ready to spend money – only to be made to feel as though she wasn’t good enough for the shop.
She then branded the employee who assisted her ‘a huge idiot’ and delivered a withering parting shot: ‘You just lost a huge sale.’
Clarkson – who moved to New York City three years ago with her two kids, River, 12, and Remington, ten – then delivered a stinging assessment of the encounter: ‘But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman.’
Clarkson claimed on Saturday that she had ‘drove all the way to Brooklyn’ to visit Art of Play, with several purchases already in mind
Clarkson’s comparison has thrust the independent Brooklyn shop into an uncomfortable spotlight
Clarkson had inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a singing and dancing bird on the wall of the shop that is not for sale and dons a ‘do not touch’ sign. Source: Instagram/@69atlantic
Referencing the famous 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, Clarkson added: ‘But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman’
The reference was unmistakable. In the 1990 blockbuster, Roberts plays Vivian Ward, who is humiliatingly dismissed from a luxury Beverly Hills boutique by employees who judge her on her appearance – only for her to return later with shopping bags and the now-iconic line: ‘Big mistake. Big. Huge.’
But neighbors and loyal customers alike have rallied behind the store – which prides itself on its ‘unique collection of magical home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books,’ per its website – insisting that the people who run the business are nothing like the snobs the singer appeared to describe.
‘Very bizarre, the woman who works there comes in every day and she was lovely, really nice they always invite us in to the shop to look around at all their new goods,’ one local Mohammed Ghasai told the Daily Mail.
Another regular customer was equally baffled by the controversy, telling the Daily Mail: ‘This is my regular, my kids love their toys.’
An anonymous source also told the Daily Mail: ‘I’ve been there dozens of times and they’re wonderfully kind. They are patient with children and never judge people who pop in to play and leave without buying anything.’
Gushing support for the unassuming boutique, they emphatically added that the shop was the ‘polar opposite of a snobby store and instead are a community-supporter, hard-working local business trying to do something different and special.’
Still, Clarkson doubled down, claiming in a post on social media Sunday evening that the store was ‘lying’ about the bird not being for sale.
‘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 i costs 15,000 dollars so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can.” That all never happened,’ she wrote, sharing a photo of what she said was the price tag.
‘OK cool, so you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,’ she continued.
Police were called to a Brooklyn design shop after a report of a disorderly person, the Daily Mail can reveal, following Kelly Clarkson’s explosive claim that she was treated like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
Clarkson claimed on social media Sunday night that The Art of Play in Brooklyn displayed a price tag on a singing bird it now claims is not for sale. Source: X/@kellyclarkson
‘And by the way, I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things,’ the singer clapped back.
‘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 [as] less than in your store just because you are a small business.
‘It’s not that hard to be kind,’ Clarkson concluded, noting: ‘I never blast people, but you my friend, were an exception.
‘Your store is really cool,’ she said. ‘Unfortunately, you aren’t.’
When the Daily Mail visited the storefront on Sunday afternoon, police were outside. Officers had been summoned to Art of Play at 2.30pm over reports of a disorderly person, and staff were so concerned by the disturbance that they were forced to lock themselves in the store.
A police car was also stationed outside the storefront for more than ten minutes as officers spoke to a woman dressed in purple who appeared frantic, waving her arms in an agitated state and gesturing to the interior of the store.
The same woman seemed to appear in a video posted on Instagram that day, in which a content creator known as ‘Sober Facts’ was questioning employees at Art of Play about the incident involving Clarkson. The woman could be seen saying she was calling the police before retreating to a neighboring business and appearing to lock the door behind her.
Meanwhile, the store has been flooded with numerous one-star Google reviews in the wake of Clarkson’s viral post, and on X, fans were quick to see the shop as the villain in a familiar tale of retail snobbery.
A content creator known as ‘Sober Facts’ was questioning employees at Art of Play about the incident involving Clarkson
Art of Play calls itself a ‘Brooklyn curiosity shop ‘and even features a small theater tucked into the back of the branch
Designed as an antidote to the ‘mindless scroll,’ the shop focuses on wonder, tactile play, and eclectic novelties with products ranging from under $50 to higher end curations like the Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table worth $4,100
The American Idol winner referenced the 1990 blockbuster Pretty Woman, which sees Julia Roberts play an unrefined sex worker who is scornfully rejected from a high-end retailer in a famous scene
‘People saying “maybe he didn’t know who Kelly Clarkson was” are missing the point that they should be treating their customers like everyone is Kelly Clarkson,’ said one X user.
Another took aim at the staffer writing, ‘I have spent most of my life in sales, and the number one lesson I have learned is that you have no idea what anyone has in their wallet.’
A third critic slated the store saying, ‘No one deserves to be treated like they cannot afford something… my most wealthy clients were some of my least glamorous… Don’t judge a book by the cover I can go on and on.’
‘Imagine being so rude to Kelly Clarkson she has to hit you with a real-life Since U Been Gone,’ quipped a fourth, who accompanied the post with an expletive directed at the staff member.
But in what appeared to be a carefully timed subtle response, Art of Play shared a glowing customer review on its Instagram Stories shortly after Clarkson’s allegations surfaced.
The testimonial painted a very different picture of life inside the shop, praising its staff for making customers feel welcome.
‘From the very first time I walked into @artofplay, I felt welcomed and treated with such genuine kindness. I love discovering unique treasures and connecting with the wonderful people there,’ the customer wrote, according to Us Weekly.
They went on to call it ‘a place that leaves you smiling and wanting to come back’, adding that they were already counting down the days until their next visit two weeks later.
The post was reportedly later deleted. Whether the review was intended as a pointed riposte to Clarkson’s claims remains unclear, and the store has yet to publicly explain its position.
Come Sunday afternoon, Art of Play had reposted a series of supportive messages from various customers on its Instagram Stories, including one that read, in part: ‘I don’t believe [Clarkson’s] story, because I have been to this store many times with my kid and it doesn’t track AT ALL, but even EVEN IF IT DID, a mega celebrity trying to ruin a small business because she thinks someone was rude to her is shameful.’
The customer added: ‘A magic store in the middle of Brooklyn heights thought blond Kelly clarkson was poor? And then treated her badly because of it? There is literally no way – we all know the richest people in Brooklyn often dress like they just rolled out of bed after a bender.’
The Daily Mail contacted Art of Play to ask about the singer’s allegations, the police attendance and the employee at the center of the feud.
The shop declined to answer questions at the time but told the Daily Mail the employee in question was still working at the store. Shortly after, they released a statement sharing their experience.
Clarkson shares daughter River, 12, and son Remy, 10, with her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, who died from melanoma at age 48 in August 2025. The scene has since become one of Hollywood’s most enduring depictions of snobbery in retail, with Clarkson suggesting her own experience had left her feeling similarly unwelcome
‘The negative experience Kelly described on twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop,’ the store wrote, in part.
‘At 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 “pick things up and play.” And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys.
‘Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store. It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.’
The store thanked their loyal customer base sincerely for sticking by them amid the drama and added their wish to clear things up with the star.
In a reference to the pop star’s own lyrics from her 2012 hit song ‘Stronger,’ the store polished off the statement with a pointed note: ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Clarkson for comment.