Grammy-winning singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson recently took to social media to call out a Brooklyn specialty shop. She claimed an employee treated her poorly during a shopping trip. Clarkson alleged that staff at the store assumed she could not afford the items she wanted to buy. She compared the uncomfortable encounter to a famous scene from the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman.
The incident occurred after the 44-year-old artist traveled from Manhattan to visit Art of Play. This specialty shop sells unique curiosities, home goods, puzzles, and books. According to Clarkson, she had specific items in mind to purchase before her experience with a store associate derailed the trip.
Kelly Clarkson Calls Out Art of Play on X
Clarkson shared her frustration with her 8.8 million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter. She detailed how the interaction unfolded. She expressed disbelief that the employee failed to recognize her and instead judged her purchasing power based on her casual appearance.
“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,” Clarkson wrote. “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale.”
She concluded her post with a sarcastic recommendation for her followers. She wrote, “But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman. For sure, check it out 👎”
The ‘Pretty Woman’ Comparison
Clarkson’s reference to Pretty Woman immediately resonated with fans online. In the classic film, Julia Roberts plays Vivian Ward. Snobby Beverly Hills boutique employees turn Vivian away and look down on her because of her appearance. She later returns with expensive shopping bags to deliver the iconic line: “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
Followers flooded social media to support the singer. They expressed shock that a store employee would dismiss a customer in that manner. Many users praised Clarkson for speaking out. Meanwhile, the shop faced a surge of online reactions and review-bombing on Google following the post.
Store Response and Fallout
Art of Play operates as a design space. It houses an intimate 26-seat close-up magic theater alongside its retail offerings. The shop offered a subtle response hours after the post went viral. It briefly shared a customer review via its Instagram Story highlighting the staff’s “genuine kindness” and welcoming atmosphere. The shop later deleted the post.
Representatives for Art of Play declined to comment when media outlets contacted them regarding the incident. Clarkson has not shared any further details about the shopping trip. She shifted her public focus back to her television appearances, including her role as a coach on the 30th season of NBC’s The Voice, following the conclusion of her daytime talk show’s seven-season run.
