Yelp pauses reviews for Brooklyn shop at center of Kelly Clarkson feud

Yelp has temporarily halted new reviews for the Brooklyn shop involved in Kelly Clarkson's recent dispute. An "Unusual Activity Alert" was placed on the Art of Play store's business page on October 12th, following Clarkson's viral social media complaint about her shopping experience at the location. The notice from Yelp confirms the action and states they are investigating whether the content reflects genuine customer experiences or the recent online conflict.

While not taking a stance on the incident, Yelp aims to ensure the page displays authentic consumer reviews. The controversy began when Clarkson accused the Art of Play employee of treating her as though she couldn't afford their merchandise, comparing it to a scene from the movie 'Pretty Woman'. The dispute centered around a mechanical singing bird, which Art of Play claimed was a permanent part of their magic shows and not for sale.

Clarkson countered with photos of a $15,000 price tag on the bird and accused the store of misrepresenting the interaction. Art of Play responded by clarifying that the bird was not for sale and offering Clarkson a nearly identical version for $15,000, along with a cheaper alternative for around $2,000. The situation drew responses from social media users, intensifying the debate on Yelp.

Yelp's policy states that reviews expressing social commentary don't provide the necessary firsthand information for customers. Once the unusual surge in activity subsides, Yelp will remove the alert and clean up the page.