Kelly Clarkson says she was treated like she couldn’t afford to shop at a Brooklyn store, and her account of the encounter has since triggered a wave of negative online reviews against the business.
The singer and talk show host wrote on X over the weekend that she had traveled to Brooklyn to visit Art of Play, a store known for its collection of toys, games, books, puzzles and other unique items, with specific purchases in mind.
“Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me,” Clarkson wrote.
She didn’t hold back in her assessment of the employee involved. “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” she continued.
Clarkson drew a direct comparison to the 1990 film “Pretty Woman,” in which Julia Roberts’ character Vivian Ward is dismissed by a boutique saleswoman who assumes she has no money to spend.
“But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in ‘Pretty Woman.’ For sure, check it out,” Clarkson added.
The comparison invited an obvious callback to the film’s famous retort, when Vivian returns to the boutique after being rejected and tells the saleswoman, “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”
Clarkson’s post spread quickly, and some of her followers moved to defend her publicly while taking aim at the store. Several users appeared to leave negative reviews on the business’s Google listing in the aftermath. One Yelp reviewer wrote: “Rude!!!! If I could give zero I would! Treat people like you want to be treated walking into a store.”
Art of Play has not issued a formal statement addressing Clarkson’s claims, and a representative for the store did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
The store did appear to respond indirectly, however, by sharing an Instagram Story featuring a customer review that praised the staff’s “genuine kindness,” according to Us Weekly. The review read in part: “From the very first time I walked into @artofplay, I felt welcomed and treated with such genuine kindness,” adding that the shop was “a place that leaves you smiling and wanting to come back.” That Instagram Story was later deleted, Us Weekly reported.
Art of Play describes itself on its website as offering “a unique collection of magical home goods, puzzles, games, toys and books,” and the Brooklyn location also includes a 26-seat theater that hosts close-up magic performances.
