Why is Kelly Clarkson beefing with a Brooklyn toy shop?

Kelly Clarkson's recent social media post has thrust a Brooklyn toy shop, Art of Play, into the spotlight, but not in a favorable way. The novelty shop, known for its playing cards, puzzles, games, and "playful decor," caught the attention of the singer after Clarkson deemed it "really rad." However, her visit took a sour turn when she claims she was treated as if she couldn't afford the store.

Clarkson wrote on social media, "Wow, dude. You're an idiot and just lost a huge sale," and added that she would check out the store if it offered a kinder experience. The reference to Pretty Woman implied that Art of Play had made a significant mistake by losing her patronage. However, the situation is not as straightforward as it may seem.

Clarkson drove all the way to Brooklyn to view the store, hoping to purchase a specific item, but was allegedly treated poorly. Art of Play responded to Clarkson's post on Instagram, explaining that the item she wanted was a singing and dancing bird automaton named Molly, which was permanently attached to the wall and not for sale.

They claimed Clarkson's request was denied because the automaton was not available for purchase. The store's response only led to more confusion when Clarkson shared an image of a price tag posted on the wall next to Molly, which listed the automaton for $15,000. Clarkson accused the salesperson of lying, stating that they had not informed her that the bird was not for sale.

The store responded again on Instagram, insisting that Molly was not for sale and offering Clarkson a nearly identical model for $15,000 or a similar automaton for $2,000. The power of celebrity has fueled the feud, leading to increased attention on review sites like Yelp. Clarkson's fans have flooded the site with negative reviews, bringing its star rating down to 2.9.

While some reviewers defend the shop, others hold them accountable for their treatment of Clarkson. Art of Play's Yelp page currently displays a disclaimer stating that the business is being monitored by Yelp's Support team for content related to media reports.