From Business Insider · Ben Shimkus · · 1m 50s
Kelly Clarkson's viral post upends Brooklyn shop
Art of Play co-owner says the singer's complaint about being denied a sale has brought threats, fans, and forty-five million views to his small store.
In brief
Art of Play co-owner says the singer's complaint about being denied a sale has brought threats, fans, and forty-five million views to his small store. Kelly Clarkson's viral social media complaint about Art of Play in Brooklyn has overwhelmed the small shop with online attention, threats, and in-person visitors, while…
Clarkson's complaint goes viral
On Saturday, Kelly Clarkson posted on X that she visited Art of Play in Brooklyn and was treated as if she could not afford an item she wanted to buy.
“It's like she threw a Molotov cocktail at us”
The shop tells a different story
Art of Play said Clarkson asked to buy Molly, a one-of-a-kind wooden bird automaton that was not for sale. Clarkson responded by calling the shop liars.
The bird now has a price tag
On Tuesday, Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin told USA Today the bird is now for sale for fifteen million dollars.
The post reaches millions
Clarkson's X post has more than forty-five million views as of publication. Art of Play is a local retailer with one hundred seventy-two thousand Instagram followers.
Angry fans descend on the shop
On Tuesday, angry Clarkson fans showed up outside Art of Play. Rubin said the store has received threats and a barrage of online hate since the post went viral.
Support arrives alongside the anger
Rubin said the store has also received in-person love from frequent customers and strangers who came to visit. A woman he does not recognize came by to give him a hug.
Rubin's message to Clarkson
Rubin said he would welcome Clarkson back but she should expect the same treatment as any other customer.We treated her like any other customer, he said.
“We treated her like any other customer. She wasn't happy because she wanted to be treated like a star.”
The main idea
Kelly Clarkson's viral social media complaint about Art of Play in Brooklyn has overwhelmed the small shop with online attention, threats, and in-person visitors, while the store disputes her account of what happened.
