Kelly Clarkson accuses Brooklyn shop of snubbing her; store says sought bird automaton isn’t for sale
The singer’s X post sparked backlash, while the store explained the item was a permanent fixture not available for purchase.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Kelly Clarkson posted on X on Saturday, accusing the Brooklyn novelty shop Art of Play of treating her as if she couldn’t afford its merchandise and saying the store refused to sell a "one‑of‑a‑kind" singing bird.
What happened
Clarkson wrote that she drove to Art of Play with "a few things in mind to buy" and was told an employee could find something comparable after being "looked at as if I couldn’t afford it." She likened the experience to the scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts’ character is snubbed, adding a thumbs‑down emoji. The post quickly amassed nearly 260,000 likes and over 32 million views.
What the reports add
Variety reported that the store responded on Instagram on Sunday, stating the item Clarkson inquired about—a bird permanently fixed to the wall—was not for sale. NBC News echoed this, noting the store said the mechanical bird, named "Molly," plays an important role in the shop’s magic shows and cannot be purchased. The New York Post added that the shop’s X message clarified that "Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale" and that the store expressed dismay over the negative review.
What was said
Clarkson wrote on X, "Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale," referring to the employee who assisted her, as reported by Variety and NBC News. Art of Play’s Instagram carousel said, "Molly is a one‑of‑a‑kind singing and dancing bird automaton. It isn’t for sale because it plays an important role in the magic shows we host here," according to NBC News. The store’s X post, cited by the New York Post, repeated that the bird is permanently attached to the wall and cannot be bought.
How it came about
Clarkson’s complaint follows a series of recent public moments that have drawn attention to her social‑media activity, including the AI‑related backlash covered by Felo News on October 2 (see Kelly Clarkson’s AI Praise Sparks Online Backlash) and her earlier backstage interaction with Dolly Parton reported on September 30 (see Kelly Clarkson says Dolly Parton’s words steadied her before ACM performance). The current dispute adds a retail‑experience angle to the singer’s recent media presence.
Key facts
- Kelly Clarkson posted on X accusing Art of Play of treating her like she couldn't afford items (variety.com)
- The store said the bird automaton Clarkson wanted, named "Molly," is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale (nbcnews.com)
- Clarkson's X post received nearly 260,000 likes and 32.2 million views (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com
- [2] nbcnews.com
- [3] nypost.com
