Kelly Clarkson vs. Art of Play: Footage Revealed of Singer’s Visit to Brooklyn Novelty Store She Slammed for ‘Pretty Woman’ Treatment
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
New footage shows Kelly Clarkson’s visit to Brooklyn novelty shop Art of Play, adding a visual record to her dispute with the business over an exchange about a $15,000 mechanical bird. The video shows Clarkson browsing with her children, speaking to an employee near the bird, then addressing another member of staff before leaving.
Clarkson says the employee told her the bird was for sale and offered to find a comparable item; the shop says it is attached to the wall and used in magic shows. Owner Adam Rubin said the store had received review-bombing and that staff and nearby businesses had been harassed after Clarkson named it online. The visit lasted under five minutes, and Clarkson posted about it 15 minutes after leaving.
- Footage adds a new view of Clarkson’s visit to Art of Play.
- Clarkson and the shop dispute what staff said about the $15,000 bird.
- The owner says staff and nearby businesses have faced harassment.
New here? Start with this
Kelly Clarkson is an American singer and television presenter. Art of Play is a novelty shop in Brooklyn that sells unusual objects and presents magic shows.
The dispute centres on a mechanical bird displayed in the shop. Clarkson described her visit as an instance of being treated dismissively, while the shop says the bird is fixed to the wall and used in its shows. The disagreement matters because posts by well-known people can bring intense public attention to a small business and its staff.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Clarkson’s account can be understood as a criticism of how a customer was treated, rather than simply a dispute about the bird’s availability. If staff gave her a price and offered to find a comparable item without clearly explaining that the bird was a fixed prop, she could reasonably have felt dismissed or misled; the brief footage may not capture the whole exchange.
The case against
The shop’s account is that the bird was fixed to the wall and used in its magic shows, so staff may have been explaining that it was not an ordinary item for sale. The footage offers another perspective but may not settle what was said or how it was conveyed, while the reported review-bombing and harassment raise a fair concern about the consequences for staff and neighbouring businesses of a public accusation.