Why Kelly Clarkson accused New York store of ‘Pretty Woman’ insult

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Kelly Clarkson has put a Brooklyn shop on blast after she claims they were rude to her when she tried to buy a $15,000 item.

Over the weekend, the American Idol alum, 44, went viral when she alleged she was treated in a way that mirrored Julia Roberts’ character Vivian’s experience in the 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman.

In the movie, Vivian encounters a rude staffer who suggests she can’t afford to buy clothes at the store they work at. Vivian later returns with bagfuls of merchandise from another shop and tells the employee they made a “big mistake.”

“Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale. 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 wrote in an X post that has been viewed more than 43 million times.

Brooklyn store defended employee in fiery response

Art of Play — which describes its store as a place to purchase “home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books” — fired back at the Since U Been Gone singer in a social media post of its own, claiming Clarkson tried to buy an item that “isn’t for sale.”

“Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here. Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale,” the store said on its Instagram page.

Art of Play also defended its employees, saying that everyone who comes inside is invited to “pick things up and play.”

“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,” they said.

The message concluded with the store owner saying the team was going to “keep our heads down” and “hopefully clear things up with Kelly someday.”

Clarkson called owner ‘rude and a liar’

But Clarkson returned to social media to rip the store again, calling the shop owner “rude and a liar” and telling her 8.8 million followers on X that she never publicly blasts businesses, “but you my friend were an exception.”

“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with 👍,” the Breakaway songstress wrote in a statement that she shared on X and her Instagram story.

“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 it costs 15,000 dollars so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can,'” she continued. “That all never happened and now it’s not for sale.”

Clarkson then directly addressed the store owner, writing, “You’re not only rude, you’re also a liar.”

The Grammy winner went on to stress that she supports small businesses.

“I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things. 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 in your store just because you are a small business,” she added. “It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.”

She concluded, “Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”

Clarkson ‘literally the nicest person‘

The Art of Play returned to Instagram to try and quell the social media storm, insisting that Clarkson was trying to purchase an item that is “permanently attached to the wall.”

“We explained that while Molly is permanently attached to the wall and serves as a de facto mascot for our shop, a nearly identical automaton is owned by 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. We explained all of this to Kelly Clarkson,” they wrote.

They also added that they tried to show Clarkson similar pieces but she “did not stick around long enough to see” them.

The store said it had reached out to The Voice coach, adding, “We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.”

Clarkson’s public reaction divided the Internet. Many followers took her side and questioned the Art of Play’s apology.

Music video director Joseph Kahn said Clarkson “is literally the nicest person I’ve ever worked with.”

“Between 1 to 10, she’s an 11 on the nice chart,” Kahn wrote on X. “Brooklyn magic shop nerds, if you piss her off to the point she tweets about you, you need to rethink your life choices.”

“Why does your story about what happened keep changing?” another follower asked, with a third adding, “Thank you for calling this out. Being a small business is not a pass for s***** behaviour.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

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