After Kelly Clarkson Said She Got the “Pretty Woman” Treatment at N.Y.C. Store, the Small Business Claps Back at Her Claims
After Kelly Clarkson Said She Got the “Pretty Woman” Treatment at N.Y.C. Store, the Small Business Claps Back at Her Claims
Desiree AnelloSun, October 11, 2026 at 9:54 PM UTC
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Kelly Clarkson; Art of Play in Brooklyn, N.Y.Credit: Art Streiber/NBC;google maps“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” Art of Play wrote on Instagram -
Kelly Clarkson slammed New York City store Art of Play after she said she was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford it” on Oct. 10
One day later, the small business reacted to her claims
Art of Play wrote, in part, on Instagram that “it’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity”
After Kelly Clarkson said she had a Pretty Woman moment while shopping at a New York City store, the small business responded to her claims.
On Saturday, Oct. 10, the “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” singer, 44, said that, after driving to Brooklyn to check out a store called Art of Play, she was met with an experience similar to the one that Julia Roberts‘ character Vivian experienced in the 1990 rom-com.
“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,” she wrote on X. “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale.”
Kelly Clarkson during a ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ episodeCredit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty
In the film, Vivian goes to a clothing boutique where the salesperson refuses to show her the more expensive items. She later returns to the store while wearing nicer clothing and holding tons of shopping bags from other stores as she remarks to the salesperson that she made a “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
One day after Clarkson shared her experience, the store — which carries a “unique collection of home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books” — addressed the singer’s claims, revealing what they say really happened.
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“Yesterday, 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,” Art of Play wrote on Instagram. “Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale.”
Emphasizing that the “negative experience” Clarkson described would surely “resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop,” the business expressed that it welcomes anyone and everyone — whether they are there to shop or just play.
Art of Play in Brooklyn, N.Y.Credit: google maps
“We greet everyone who walks in the door with the invitation to ‘pick things up and play,’ ” the post read. “And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys.”
“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” the business continued. “It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”
While Art of Play thanked the “curious folks” who discovered the Brooklyn store amid the drama, the post stated that they are planning to “keep our heads down” until things blow over and they get a chance to “clear things up with Kelly.”
“As a talented popular singer once said, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ ” they concluded in the post, referring to Clarkson’s 2012 song “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
