On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, Art of Play, a novelty toy and games store in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, experienced an unexpected surge in foot traffic. The shop was bustling with customers and reporters, all curious about a recent social media controversy involving Kelly Clarkson and a mechanical bird.
The Controversy
The drama began when Clarkson, a Grammy-winning musician, took to social media to express her frustration after being denied the opportunity to purchase a singing and dancing mechanical bird, which she claimed had a price tag of $15,000 (£11,000). She alleged that the store staff treated her as if she could not afford the item, likening her experience to that of Julia Roberts' character in the 1990 film Pretty Woman.
“"Y'all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman," Clarkson tweeted.
In a follow-up post, she stated that the store informed her the bird was not for sale and suggested they could find her something else "comparable."
Art of Play's Response
Art of Play defended its actions, clarifying that the wooden bird, named Molly, is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. During Clarkson's five-minute visit on Saturday, an employee reportedly suggested she could purchase an identical bird for $15,000. They also offered her a different singing bird for $2,000 from a clock-making shop in Germany.
