NEW YORK, Oct 12 — A singing, dancing bird automaton has landed US singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson in a very public standoff with a Brooklyn shop, and social media users are split over who is in the right.
The row began last Saturday, when the singer, 44, posted on X that she had driven to Art of Play, a store selling home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books, with a few things in mind to buy.
Instead, she wrote, she “literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it”, and was told the shop could find something comparable for her.
She then urged her followers to visit the shop if they enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character Vivian in the 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman.
The post has since racked up over 39.9 million views.
Clarkson, who moved to New York City in the autumn of 2023, said the piece she wanted, titled Singing Bird, had a price tag of US$15,000 (RM61,300), and that she had been told it was for sale at that price.
Art of Play responded the next day on Instagram, saying she had asked about buying Molly, a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton that features in the magic shows the shop hosts.
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale,” the shop wrote.
It added that the “negative experience” Clarkson described would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop, and stressed that it welcomes browsers and buyers alike.
The shop also said it was taken aback by the online fallout.
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store.”
Clarkson hit back on Sunday through a sarcastic Instagram Stories post, saying the conversation she had about the price tag was now being brushed aside as something that never happened.
She also shared a grainy photo that apparently showed the item hanging on the wall with a price tag beside it.
“So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” she wrote.
The singer said she supports small businesses, having tried to spend money in one, but argued that “you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business”.
She added that she rarely blasts people, called the store cool and said its owner was not.
Online, some X users accused Clarkson of using her fame to go after a small business over one employee’s behaviour.
“A small business does not need a mega bully,” one X user posted under the handle @usebigears.
Others rallied behind the singer, with one user, @megakunt1, arguing that the shop’s staff were at fault because “they assumed she couldn’t afford it” even though the price was clearly displayed.
A few users went further, predicting that an employee at the store would lose their job over the incident.
Art of Play struck a calmer note, thanking supporters, welcoming the curious and saying it planned to keep a low profile.
“Hopefully, we can clear things up with Kelly someday,” the shop said, before borrowing a line from her hit Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).
