Kelly Clarkson Says Brooklyn Shop Snubbed Her

Kelly Clarkson says she got the Pretty Woman treatment in Brooklyn, but the shop involved insists it was all a misunderstanding over a mechanical bird, NBC News reports.The back-and-forth:

• The singer wrote on X that an employee at Art of Play acted as if she couldn't pay for what she wanted and tried to steer her to something else, prompting her to slam the worker as an "idiot" who blew a big sale and to liken the visit to Julia Roberts' iconic snub scene in the 1990 film.

• Art of Play pushed back Sunday, saying Clarkson had asked to buy "Molly," a custom singing and dancing bird automaton that isn't for sale because it's central to the in-store magic shows. The statement acknowledged that the kind of interaction Clarkson described would hit home for anyone who's felt judged while shopping and stressed that everyone is welcome. It didn't directly address her claim about being treated as if she was short on cash.
• As Clarkson's post unleashed negative reviews and online anger at the small business, the store called the backlash "surreal" and closed with a nod to one of her lyrics, saying it hopes to eventually clear things up with Clarkson because, "As a talented popular singer once said 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.'"
• Per People, Clarkson responded to the store's reply by claiming the store was attempting to spin a false "narrative." She wrote on social media: "[S]o 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."
• She also re-posted an image from an internet sleuth appearing to show a $15,000 price tag hanging from the bird, but the Hollywood Reporter notes a reader later wrote in to the magazine to point out that the store refers to the bird as its "mascot" and has previously indicated it is not for sale.