Kelly Clarkson calls Brooklyn store owner a ‘liar’ in escalating $15K bird sculpture dispute
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kelly Clarkson has again fired back at a Brooklyn store owner, accusing them of being rude and dishonest after a shopping trip turned into a public dispute.
The singer previously claimed she experienced a ‘Pretty Woman’ moment at Art of Play in New York City after allegedly being treated as though she could not afford an item she wanted to purchase.
The store has disputed her account, insisting that the singing bird sculpture at the center of the controversy was never for sale.
Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with 👍 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.” 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 ✅ And by the way, 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. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026
Kelly Clarkson calls Art of Play owner a liar over $15,000 sculpture
On Sunday, October 11, Clarkson took to social media to challenge Art of Play’s account of their interaction.
She claimed the store owner initially told her that a singing bird sculpture was available for $15,000 before allegedly offering to find her something comparable.
“That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool,” Clarkson wrote, accusing the owner of being rude and condescending. She subsequently called the owner a liar, writing, “So you're not only rude, you're also a liar.”
The singer also pushed back against any suggestion that she did not support small businesses, pointing out that she had been shopping at one when the alleged incident occurred.
“You don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business,” she wrote.
Clarkson concluded her post with another criticism of the shop owner, saying, “Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”
The dispute began on Saturday, October 10, when the 44-year-old singer said she had driven to Brooklyn to visit Art of Play after finding the store interesting and identifying several items she wanted to buy.
“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.”
Art of Play disputes Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Pretty Woman’ shopping claim
Clarkson compared the experience to the treatment of Julia Roberts’ character, Vivian, in the 1990 romantic comedy ‘Pretty Woman’.
In the film, Vivian visits a clothing boutique where a salesperson refuses to show her the more expensive items.
She later returns wearing nicer clothes and carrying shopping bags from other stores, telling the salesperson, “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
One day after Clarkson shared her experience, Art of Play responded to the singer’s allegations, offering its version of events.
The store, which carries a unique collection of home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books, thanked the “curious folks” who had discovered the Brooklyn business amid the controversy.
The store said it planned to “keep our heads down” until the situation blew over and it had an opportunity to “clear things up with Kelly.”
Art of Play also disputed Clarkson’s earlier account, maintaining that the singing bird automaton, known as “Molly,” was attached to the wall, used in magic shows and never available for purchase.
This directly contradicted Clarkson’s claim that the owner had initially quoted a price of $15,000 for the piece before allegedly offering to find her a comparable item.
The store concluded its response with a reference to Clarkson’s 2012 song ‘Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)’, writing, “As a talented popular singer once said, ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ ” in an apparent nod to the singer’s hit track.
