Kelly Clarkson has continued her online feud with Art of Play, a Brooklyn store, after they said a singing and dancing bird automaton was not for sale. The singer and talk show host accused the store of being rude and dishonest.
Clarkson's Claims Against the Store
The American Idol winner said she drove 18 hours to visit the store, which she thought looked "rad," and tried to purchase the unique automaton. She claims the owner said the item was never for sale, and she then shared her negative experience publicly.
Clarkson said she was treated like the "Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman" and that the owner was condescending when she asked about the price tag. She later shared what she called "proof" the item was available for $15,000 (£11,300).
Store's Response and Clarkson's Rebuttal
Following backlash, Art of Play posted a statement on Instagram saying they were "suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store." They added: "It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity."
The statement ended with a line from one of Clarkson's songs: "As a talented popular singer once said 'what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger'." Clarkson responded on her Instagram Stories, saying: "Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with."
She detailed the conversation, saying she asked if the bird was for sale while pointing to the price tag. Clarkson quoted the owner as saying, "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 added: "So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar."
Support for Small Businesses and Further Clarification
Clarkson said she supports small businesses but argued they should not get a "free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business." She concluded: "I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t."
In response, Art of Play claimed they offered to show Clarkson a different singing bird automaton, made by a traditional clockmaking shop in Germany, that she could have taken home that day. They said it cost about $2,000, adding: "She did not stick around long enough to see it."
The store said they have reached out to Clarkson to "clear the air," adding: "we really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding."
