A Brooklyn novelty shop has responded to Kelly Clarkson after the singer accused the store of giving her the “Pretty Woman” treatment during a visit over the weekend.
Art of Play, located in Brooklyn Heights, issued a statement saying the mechanical bird Clarkson inquired about, named Molly, is permanently attached to the wall and is not available for purchase.
The dispute has drawn millions of views online and sparked a heated back-and-forth between the Grammy-winning singer and the small business.
Store Says Bird Is a Mascot
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Art of Play said Clarkson visited the shop on Saturday and asked about buying Molly, described as a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton.
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale,” the store wrote.
The shop said Molly plays a role in the magic shows it hosts and serves as a de facto mascot. The store also acknowledged that the negative experience Clarkson described would resonate with anyone who has felt judged in a shop.
Art of Play said it had received a wave of online backlash after Clarkson’s post.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” the store wrote. “It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”
Clarkson Accuses Store of Lying
Clarkson responded on X on Sunday, disputing the store’s account and accusing the business of dishonesty.
She wrote that during her visit, she pointed to a price tag on the wall labeled “Singing Bird” and asked if it was for sale. According to Clarkson, an employee looked at her condescendingly and said the item cost $15,000 before offering to find something comparable.
“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with,” Clarkson wrote.
She added, “So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it.”
The singer also shared a photo that she said showed a $15,000 price tag next to the bird display.
Clarkson said she supports small businesses but argued they do not get a free pass to treat people poorly.
“It’s not that hard to be kind,” she wrote. “I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”
Store Offers Additional Details
On Monday, Art of Play posted a second statement providing what it described as additional clarification about Clarkson’s roughly five-minute visit.
The store said it explained to Clarkson that while Molly is attached to the wall, a nearly identical automaton is owned by the machine’s creator, Seattle artist Bliss Kolb. According to the store, Kolb said he would be willing to sell Molly’s twin for $15,000.
Art of Play also said it offered to show Clarkson a different singing bird automaton made by a traditional clockmaking shop in Germany, which cost about $2,000. The store said Clarkson did not stay long enough to see it.
“We’ve reached out to Kelly directly to try and clear the air,” the store wrote. “We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.”
Initial Complaint Drew Millions of Views
The dispute began on Saturday when Clarkson posted on X that she had driven to Brooklyn to visit Art of Play after thinking the store “looked really rad.”
She wrote that she was “literally looked at as if I couldn’t afford it” and was told the employee could find something comparable for her.
Clarkson compared the experience to the 1990 film “Pretty Woman,” in which Julia Roberts’ character is snubbed by boutique staff. She urged her followers to visit the store if they enjoy being treated that way.
The post has since accumulated more than 32 million views, according to public metrics on the platform.
Following Clarkson’s post, some social media users left negative reviews on Art of Play’s Yelp page. Others defended the store, sharing positive experiences on Instagram.
Art of Play ended its initial statement by referencing Clarkson’s 2011 hit song, writing, “As a talented popular singer once said ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’”
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The store said it plans to keep a low profile amid the attention and remains open to resolving the matter with Clarkson directly.
