Store responds after Kelly Clarkson says staff treated her like Julia Roberts’ ‘Pretty Woman’ character
Brooklyn specialty store Art of Play has responded after singer Kelly Clarkson accused the store of treating her “like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman.”
Art of Play released a statement on its Instagram page after Clarkson tweeted on October 10 that she had visited the store, with her eye on a few items, but was instead “looked at like I can’t afford it.”
Clarkson added that he “was told he could find something comparable for me.”
“Wow, man. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” Clarkson wrote on X, before naming the New York store.
The small business responded Oct. 11, saying in a statement that Clarkson attempted to purchase a permanent facility that was not for sale.
“Yesterday, Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and asked us how to purchase ‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing automaton bird that plays an important role in the magic shows we put on here,” the store wrote on its social media page. “Molly is permanently attached to the wall and is not for sale. However, the negative experience Kelly described on Twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a store.”
The outlet, which wrote that it faced backlash after Clarkson’s post, thanked those who supported it.
“Thank you to all our friends for their support and welcome to all the curious people who discovered us in the midst of the drama,” Art of Play wrote in the statement, before referencing Clarkson’s hit song. “We’re going to keep our heads down and hopefully we can clear things up with Kelly one day. As a talented popular singer once said, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
Clarkson did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment. But in another article on X, Clarkson disputed the store’s statement, describing staff as “not only rude, but also a liar.”
“Cool, cool. Of course it wasn’t for sale. This is the narrative that Art of Play is going to accompany đź‘Ť,” Clarkson wrote on the social media platform on October 11.
The singer then continued her version of events.
“So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale by pointing to the price tag on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen because you looked at me in the elevator and said in a condescending tone ‘yes it’s for sale but it’s $15,000 so if you want me to find something comparable for you I can.'” she wrote in the post, seemingly express sarcasm. “All of this never happened and now it’s no longer for sale.”
The singer also responded to criticism that she doesn’t support small businesses.
“You don’t get a free pass to treat people less than you would at your store just because you’re a small business,” she wrote. “It’s not that hard to be nice. I never blow people up but you, my friend, were an exception.”
She concluded by saying, “Your store is really cool. »
“Unfortunately, this is not the case,” she wrote.
Art of Play did not immediately respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment on Clarkson’s Oct. 11 post. The store did, however, share a follow-up post on its Instagram early on October 12 in an effort to “clarify an additional detail about Kelly Clarkson’s visit.”
“During the 5 minutes she was in the store, she inquired about our mechanical bird puppet named Molly,” Art of Play’s Oct. 12 post reads. “We explained that although Molly is permanently attached to the wall and serves as the de facto mascot for our store, a nearly identical automaton belongs to the creator of the machines, a brilliant artist named Bliss Kolb who lives in Seattle. He told us he would be willing to part with Molly’s twin for $15,000.”
The store said employees offered to show him another option for a songbird, available to take home that day for $2,000, but Clarkson “didn’t stay long enough to see it.”
Art of Play said it contacted the singer directly to “clarify matters”.
Art of Play, located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, is a specialty store that offers home goods as well as magic-themed gifts, cards and games.
In her post, Clarkson said she “drove to Brooklyn” to check out the store, with a few things to buy already in mind. She compared her experience to that of Julia Roberts’ “Pretty Woman” character, Vivian Ward, when she is rebuffed by a Beverly Hills salesman who assumes she can’t afford the store’s expensive items because of her casual appearance.
Art of Play said in the release that the store invites all shoppers to play with their items.
“And so it is, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys,” the store said.
The reviews they received surprised them, the store said in the release.
“Imagine our surprise when our small, local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who had never visited our store,” the statement said. “It has been a surreal experience to be at the center of such outrage after just one celebrity mention.”
The bird automaton does not appear to have been available for purchase in the past. Several weeks ago, the store posted an article about its “favorite items not for sale,” featuring an image of the bird automaton.
Since the parties’ comments, the internet has been divided, with Clarkson fans flocking to the outlet’s pages to express their disappointment. Many other people, including New York residents, also commented, sharing their positive experiences with the store.
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