Kelly Clarkson’s viral complaint about a Brooklyn specialty store has taken another turn after the business publicly pushed back on her version of events.
The singer said she felt judged at Art of Play and compared the experience to Julia Roberts’ famous shopping scene in “Pretty Woman.”
However, the store says the item Clarkson wanted was never available for purchase and claims the fallout from her post unleashed overwhelming backlash.
Kelly Clarkson Says She Was Treated Like She Couldn’t Afford The Store
The dispute began after Clarkson visited Art of Play in Brooklyn on Saturday, October 10.
As The Blast previously reported, the 44-year-old wrote on X that she had driven to Brooklyn because the shop looked “really rad” and had several things she wanted to buy.
Clarkson claimed an employee looked at her as though she could not afford what she wanted and offered to find something “comparable.”
She called the employee an “idiot,” said the store had lost a “huge sale,” and compared the experience to “Pretty Woman,” in which Julia Roberts’ character is dismissed by salespeople who assume she cannot afford their merchandise.
Her post quickly went viral, sending angry fans toward the shop’s review pages and social media accounts.
Brooklyn Store Says The Item Kelly Clarkson Wanted Wasn’t For Sale
Art of Play broke its silence one day later with a different explanation.
According to the store, Clarkson had asked to buy “Molly,” which it described as a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton used in its magic shows.
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale,” the business explained in an Instagram post.
Art of Play acknowledged that Clarkson’s account would resonate with anyone who has felt judged while shopping, but insisted it welcomes visitors whether they make a purchase or simply browse.
Store Says Kelly Clarkson’s Complaint Brought ‘8 Million People’ Down On It
Art of Play said the scale of the reaction caught the small business off guard.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” its statement read.
It thanked supporters and welcomed people who discovered it through the controversy, adding that it planned to “keep our heads down” while hoping to eventually clear things up with Clarkson.
The store ended with a pointed reference to one of Clarkson’s signature songs: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Art of Play’s response came after The Blast reported that the store later disabled Instagram comments amid the backlash.
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Fans Are Deeply Split Over Who Handled The Situation Wrong
The store’s response did little to settle the argument.
One commenter criticized Kelly Clarkson for publicly naming a small business, arguing that someone with her platform should have anticipated harassment from fans.
Another defended Clarkson and called Art of Play’s statement “very sarcastic,” adding, “No accountability.”
Some were even more firmly on Clarkson’s side. One commenter thanked her for “exposing Brooklyn snobs,” while another argued that the tone of the store’s response made her account seem more believable.
One longtime customer described it as one of their favorite stores and accused Clarkson of “weaponizing” her large social-media following instead of resolving the issue privately.
A sixth commenter remained skeptical of the store’s explanation, writing, “There’s no way you ONLY told her it wasn’t for sale and she left with that impression.”
The Store’s Magic-Theater Background Adds Context To ‘Molly’
Art of Play was founded in 2013 by twin brothers Dan and Dave Buck, who built their reputation around sleight of hand and helped popularize cardistry.
Its Brooklyn location at 69 Atlantic Avenue sells puzzles, games, books, toys and unusual home goods, but also houses an intimate 26-seat theater where close-up magicians perform.
The company describes the Brooklyn space as a curiosity shop and hidden theater designed around interactive play, unusual objects and intimate sleight-of-hand performances for its visitors.
Still, neither side’s public account fully answers how the conversation itself unfolded.
Clarkson maintains she was made to feel as though she could not afford what she wanted while Art of Play says the item was simply unavailable for sale and that everyone is welcome.
Following the store’s response, one can only wait to see how things develop from here.
