KELLY CLARKSON AND BROOKLYN SHOP DISPUTE OVER BIRD AUTOMATON

Kelly Clarkson has disputed with Brooklyn store Art of Play after visiting the shop at the weekend. Clarkson told her followers on X that she had travelled to the store after seeing it online, intending to buy several items, but said a sales associate treated her as though she could not afford them and offered to find her something "comparable". She compared the experience to a scene in the film Pretty Woman and said the associate had "lost a huge sale". Her post was seen by her eight million followers on the platform. Art of Play, which describes itself on its website as a shop selling home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books, opened its flagship store in 2024.

Following Clarkson's post, the store said it faced negative comments and reviews from her fans online. Art of Play responded in an Instagram post, saying Clarkson had visited and asked to buy "Molly", which it described as a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton used in magic shows held at the store. The shop said Molly is permanently fixed to the wall and is not for sale. One report described the item as a singing bird worth around £11,000, though this valuation was not confirmed by the store itself.

Art of Play said in its statement that it welcomes all visitors and acknowledged that the negative experience Clarkson described would "resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop". The store said it was surprised to find itself facing criticism from what it called "8 million people who have never visited our store". Neither Clarkson nor Art of Play has reported any further developments or responses since the Instagram post was published on Sunday.