Kelly Clarkson has taken aim at a Brooklyn boutique after saying a staff member made her feel as though she could not afford to shop there. Now, the store’s devoted customers and nearby residents are rallying to defend the business.
Police were called to Art of Play at 2.30pm on Saturday following a report of a disorderly person, Our News Outlet can reveal.
A patrol car remained outside the shop for more than ten minutes while officers spoke with a woman in purple. She appeared distressed, waving her arms and pointing toward the inside of the store.
The police response came one day after Clarkson’s furious account of her visit emerged. Art of Play describes itself on its website as a purveyor of a “unique collection of magical home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books.”
Yet neighbors and repeat customers have rejected the suggestion that the people running the independent store are snobbish or dismissive.
“Very bizarre, the woman who works there comes in every day and she was lovely, really nice. They always invite us into the shop to look around at all their new goods,” local resident Mohammed Ghasai told Our News Outlet.
Another regular shopper was just as surprised by the dispute. “This is my regular, my kids love their toys,” the customer told Our News Outlet.
The conflicting accounts follow a public complaint from the 44-year-old American Idol winner, who said she had made the trip to Brooklyn intending to spend money but was instead made to feel unwelcome.
Police were called to the Brooklyn design shop after a report of a disorderly person, Our News Outlet can reveal, shortly after Kelly Clarkson claimed she was treated like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
Clarkson said on Saturday that she had “drove all the way to Brooklyn” to visit Art of Play, with several purchases already in mind
Referring to the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, Clarkson said: “But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman”
She called the employee who helped her “a huge idiot” before ending her complaint with a pointed warning: “You just lost a huge sale.”
Clarkson moved to New York City three years ago with her two children, River, 12, and Remington, ten.
“But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman,” she added sarcastically.
Her comparison drew on a famous scene from the film, in which Roberts plays Vivian Ward, a woman humiliatingly turned away from an upscale Beverly Hills boutique because of her appearance. Vivian later returns with shopping bags and delivers the now-iconic line: “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
The accusation has placed the small Brooklyn business under an uncomfortable spotlight, encouraging Clarkson’s supporters to cast it as the antagonist in a familiar story about retail prejudice.
“People saying ‘maybe he didn’t know who Kelly Clarkson was’ are missing the point that they should be treating their customers like everyone is Kelly Clarkson,” one X user wrote.
Another commenter criticized the employee, writing: “I have spent most of my life in sales, and the number one lesson I have learned is that you have no idea what anyone has in their wallet.”
A third critic also condemned the store: “No one deserves to be treated like they cannot afford something… my most wealthy clients were some of my least glamorous… Don’t judge a book by the cover I can go on and on.”
“Imagine being so rude to Kelly Clarkson she has to hit you with a real-life Since U Been Gone,” a fourth user joked, accompanying the post with an expletive aimed at the staff member.
Yet the backlash has not been entirely one-sided. Instead of joining the pile-on, some locals have come out in defense of the local store.
Clarkson’s comparison has thrust the independent Brooklyn shop into an uncomfortable spotlight
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Art of Play calls itself a ‘Brooklyn curiosity shop ‘and even features a small theater tucked into the back of the branch
Designed as an antidote to the ‘mindless scroll,’ the shop focuses on wonder, tactile play, and eclectic novelties with products ranging from under $50 to higher end curations like the Sisyphus Kinetic Art Table worth $4,100
The American Idol winner referenced the 1990 blockbuster Pretty Woman, which sees Julia Roberts play an unrefined sex worker who is scornfully rejected from a high-end retailer in a famous scene
An anonymous source told Our News Outlet: ‘I’ve been there dozens of times and they’re wonderfully kind. They are patient with children and never judge people who pop in to play and leave without buying anything.’
Gushing support for the unassuming boutique, they continued, emphatically adding the store was the ‘polar opposite of a snobby store and instead are a community-supporter, hard-working local business trying to do something different and special.’
And in what appeared to be a carefully timed subtle response, Art of Play shared a glowing customer review on its Instagram Stories shortly after Clarkson’s allegations surfaced.
The testimonial painted a very different picture of life inside the shop, praising its staff for making customers feel welcome.
‘From the very first time I walked into @artofplay, I felt welcomed and treated with such genuine kindness. I love discovering unique treasures and connecting with the wonderful people there,’ the customer wrote, according to Us Weekly.
They went on to call it ‘a place that leaves you smiling and wanting to come back’, adding that they were already counting down the days until their next visit two weeks later.
The post was reportedly later deleted. Whether the review was intended as a pointed riposte to Clarkson’s claims remains unclear, and the store has yet to publicly explain its position.
Come Sunday afternoon, Art of Play was reposting a series of supportive messages from customers on its Instagram Stories.
Our News Outlet contacted Art of Play to ask about the singer’s allegations, the police attendance and the employee at the center of the feud.
The shop declined to answer questions at the time but told Our News Outlet the employee in question was still working at the store. Shortly after, they released a statement sharing their experience.
Clarkson shares daughter River, 12, and son Remy, 10, with her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, who died from melanoma at age 48 in August 2025. The scene has since become one of Hollywood’s most enduring depictions of snobbery in retail, with Clarkson suggesting her own experience had left her feeling similarly unwelcome
Clarkson had inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a singing and dancing bird on the wall of the shop that is not for sale, the store said in a statement
‘Yesterday, Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and inquired about buying “Molly,” a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here.
‘Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale. However, the negative experience Kelly described on twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop.
‘At Art of Play whether someone comes in to make a purchase or simply look around for a while, they are equally welcome.
‘We greet everyone who walks in the door with the invitation to “pick things up and play.”‘ And they do, many stay for hours enjoying our puzzles, games and toys.
‘Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store. It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.’
The store thanked their loyal customer base sincerely for sticking by them amid the drama and added their wish to clear things up with the star.
In a reference to the pop star’s own lyrics from her 2012 hit song ‘Stronger,’ the store polished off the statement with a pointed note: ‘What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’
