Kelly Clarkson visited Art of Play, a magic and puzzle shop in Brooklyn Heights, on Saturday. That afternoon she posted on X that a clerk looked at her "as if I couldn't afford it" and offered to find her "something comparable." She told her followers to go there "if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman." Variety reported the post had 32.2 million views. On Sunday the store posted a statement saying she had asked about Molly, a singing bird automaton that "isn't for sale." Clarkson wrote back around 5 PM Pacific on Sunday. She said the person she dealt with had quoted her $15,000 for the bird. "So you're not only rude, you're also a liar," she wrote. Neither side's representatives answered reporters' requests for comment.

Clarkson Says She Got Talked Down To

She says the clerk sized her up and brushed her off.

She says the clerk told her the price. Clarkson wrote that she pointed to "the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird." She said the clerk "elevator eyed" her and said, "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 also shared a photo that appears to show a $15,000 tag. Someone else wrote its caption.

She says being small doesn't excuse being rude. "You don't get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business," Clarkson wrote. She added, "It's not that hard to be kind."

Her fans say every customer deserves her treatment. An X user who posts as Zeke The Plumber wrote that stores "should be treating their customers like everyone is Kelly Clarkson." The post drew about 130,000 likes. Joseph Kahn is a music video director who has worked with her. He wrote that Clarkson is "literally the nicest person I've ever worked with."

But the Store Says Molly Was Never for Sale

The shop says Clarkson asked about its mascot, which was never for sale.

The bird is attached to the wall. The store said Molly "plays an important role in the magic shows we host here" and "is permanently attached to the wall." It added that anyone "who has ever felt judged in a shop" would relate to what Clarkson described. NBC News noted the statement didn't directly answer her claim that the clerk treated her as if she couldn't afford anything.

Molly has been the shop mascot for more than a year. A February 2025 store post called her the "beloved shop bird," Variety reported. Variety also noted she's one of the few items in the store with a "Do Not Touch" sign. A September 5 store post listed Molly among its favorite "not for sale" items, Extra reported. An X user, Sheel Mohnot, posted his own video of the bird. Extra said it shows no price tag.

One shopper says the staff was friendly. Annie Qin, a 21-year-old tourist, told the New York Daily News the shop had "very friendly shopkeepers." She called Clarkson's post "extremely harsh" and "definitely not my experience."

And Critics Say Clarkson Sicced Millions on a Small Shop

They say one celebrity post sent millions of angry strangers after a small shop.

The shop got a wave of one-star reviews. Primetimer reported Sunday morning that the store's Yelp rating had fallen to 1.8 stars. One review read, "If I could give zero I would!" Page Six reported one-star Google reviews like "y'all mean to Kelly Clarkson? heck no."

The store says one post turned millions against it. Its statement said the shop "was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store." "It's been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity," it said.

One critic calls it a victim story. Fox News host Greg Gutfeld wrote on X, "She wanted to buy something that wasn't for sale." He said she "posted to millions a story of victimhood when her money and or status couldn't persuade them." Extra reported that commenters are divided and that some "feel it's a mismatched battle."

Where This Lands

Clarkson says the person she dealt with quoted her $15,000 for the bird and looked her up and down. She says the store is now lying about it. Art of Play says Molly is a wall-mounted mascot that was never for sale. A February 2025 post called her the shop mascot, and a September 5 post listed her as not for sale. Gutfeld says she told millions a victim story after her money and status couldn't get her the bird. As of Sunday night, the store hasn't publicly answered her "liar" post.

Sources