Art of Play, a Brooklyn novelty store, responded after singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson said on X that a staff member treated her as though she could not afford items she intended to buy. Clarkson said she had driven to Brooklyn to visit the store and compared the experience to the treatment of Julia Roberts’ character in “Pretty Woman.”
The store said Clarkson had asked to buy “Molly,” a singing and dancing bird automaton used in magic shows at the shop. It said the item is fixed to a wall and is not for sale. Art of Play said it was sorry Clarkson had a negative shopping experience. Clarkson wrote that an employee offered to find her something comparable after she said she had a few items in mind to purchase.