# Kelly Clarkson vs Brooklyn toy store over $15,000 bird > A celebrity's complaint about poor service at a small business sparked a public dispute, review bombing, and debate about online pile-ons. - Title: Kelly Clarkson vs Brooklyn toy store over $15,000 bird - Summary: A celebrity's complaint about poor service at a small business sparked a public dispute, review bombing, and debate about online pile-ons. Kelly Clarkson… - Keywords: kelly clarkson, art of play, brooklyn, customer service dispute, review bombing, small business, social media backlash, celebrity complaint, business, technology, Kelly, Clarkson - Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/kelly-clarkson-nyc-shop-internet-drama-reviews-pretty-woman-2026-10 - Author: Amanda Goh - Published: 2026-10-12T05:50:27.431+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: kelly clarkson, art of play, brooklyn, customer service dispute, review bombing, small business, social media backlash, celebrity complaint, business, technology ## Singer visits Brooklyn toy store Kelly Clarkson visited Art of Play, a toy store in New York City, after driving to Brooklyn to check out items she wanted to buy. ## Clarkson says she was dismissed Clarkson said a staff member looked at her as if she could not afford a fifteen thousand dollar item and offered to find her something comparable instead. > literally was looked at as if I couldn't afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me ## She compares it to Pretty Woman Clarkson posted on X that she received the Pretty Woman treatment, comparing her experience to how Julia Roberts' character is treated in the nineteen nineties rom-com. > if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman ## Post goes viral on social media Clarkson's X post received more than thirty nine point four million views and over two hundred sixty one thousand likes as of Sunday evening. ## Store responds with its account Art of Play said on Instagram the next day that the bird automaton Clarkson inquired about was permanently attached to the wall and was not for sale. ## Store says it welcomes all visitors Art of Play said it understood why Clarkson's account would resonate with anyone who felt judged in a shop, but said it welcomed visitors equally whether they came to browse or buy. ## Store describes sudden backlash Art of Play said it was attacked by eight million people who had never visited the store after one mention by a celebrity, calling the experience surreal. > Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store ## Clarkson shares photo of price tag Clarkson countered on Instagram Stories and X, sharing a photo she said showed the bird's fifteen thousand dollar price tag and details about her conversation. ## Clarkson describes condescending tone Clarkson said the staff member elevator eyed her and told her in a condescending tone that the item was for sale but cost fifteen thousand dollars before offering a comparable alternative. > 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 ## Clarkson accuses store of lying Clarkson said the store was not only rude but also a liar for claiming the bird was not for sale after initially saying it cost fifteen thousand dollars. > So you're not only rude, you're also a liar ## Store clarifies the bird situation Art of Play said on Sunday night that although the bird was permanently attached to its wall, the creator owned a nearly identical one willing to sell for fifteen thousand dollars. ## Review bombing hits the store Art of Play's Google Reviews showed a four point seven star rating based on two hundred seventy three reviews at nine pm on Sunday, with recent one star complaints connected to the dispute. ## Expert warns against online disputes Danny Deraney, founder of LA-based Deraney Public Relations, said Clarkson should have raised the issue directly with the store rather than on the internet to avoid putting a small business at risk. > Even if Kelly is right about how she was treated, employees who did not interact with her, and the business, could end up getting the worst of it ## Key takeaway Kelly Clarkson accused Art of Play in Brooklyn of treating her dismissively when she inquired about a fifteen thousand dollar animatronic bird, sparking a public dispute that led to review bombing and raised questions about the risks of celebrity complaints online.