Kelly Clarkson Fires Back at Brooklyn Store's Apology

Kelly Clarkson has responded on social media to a Brooklyn store's apology following an alleged incident of poor customer service. The singer took to X, formerly Twitter, to dispute the store's explanation, stating, "Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with."

Clarkson recounted her experience, claiming that when she inquired about purchasing an animated bird with a price tag, a store employee condescendingly informed her it cost $15,000 and offered to find something more comparable. "So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen as you elevator eyed me saying in a condescending tone “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,'" Clarkson wrote.

She continued, "That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it."

The store, Art of Play, had previously stated that they were "suddenly attacked by 8 million people" and described the reaction to Clarkson's initial post as a "surreal experience."

Clarkson clarified her stance on supporting small businesses, stating, "I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things. I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business. It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception."

She concluded her remarks by saying, "Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t."

Clarkson initially shared her negative shopping experience on X, comparing herself to Julia Roberts' character in "Pretty Woman." She alleged that she was "looked at as if I couldn’t afford it" and was offered assistance in finding a less expensive alternative.

"Wow, dude," Clarkson added in her initial post. "You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale." She then advised her followers to visit Art of Play if they enjoyed being treated like the character in "Pretty Woman."

In their own social media statement, Art of Play responded to the backlash, asserting that "at Art of Play, whether someone comes in to make a purchase or simply look around for a while, they are equally welcome," and thanked their supporters, noting that many visitors spend hours enjoying their offerings.