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The Brooklyn shop at the center of controversy over how its staff allegedly mistreated Kelly Clarkson has seemingly offered a thinly-veiled response.
Hours after Clarkson, 44, tweeted about allegedly having a Pretty Woman-style experience of being shamed over a potential purchase, Art of Play shared a message via its Instagram Story from another customer who praised its staff’s “genuine kindness.”
“From the very first time I walked into @artofplay, I felt welcomed and treated with such genuine kindness,” the review began. “I love discovering unique treasures and connecting with the wonderful people there.”
The customer review went on, “[Art of Play is] a place that leaves you smiling and wanting to come back. I’m already counting down the days until I return in two weeks.”
Art of Play later deleted the customer review from its Instagram Stories.
Earlier on Saturday, Clarkson tweeted about allegedly having a negative interaction with Art of Play’s staff while shopping in the Brooklyn store. (Art of Play sells curiosities and unique toys. It is also a design space and houses a close-up magic theater.)
“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. Wow, dude,” Clarkson posted.
The Voice coach slammed the offending Art of Play staffer as an “idiot” who’d just lost “a huge sale.”
“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,” she added.
Clarkson’s nod to Pretty Woman refers to an iconic sequence from the 1990 comedy, in which Roberts’ escort character Vivian Ward attempts to buy some high-fashion clothing from a Beverly Hills boutique using money from a wealthy businessman (Richard Gere) who hired her for a week. A snobby saleswoman (Dey Young) put off by Vivian’s midriff-baring minidress kicks her out of the store, assuming she can’t pay for any of the items she wants.
After picking up fancy duds at another store, Vivian returns to the original boutique the following day to give the rude saleswoman a piece of her mind.
“Hi, do you remember me? I was in here yesterday [and] you wouldn’t wait on me,” she quipped. “You work on commission, right? Big mistake. Big. Huge. I have to go shopping now!”
Kelly Clarkson got emotional while discussing the upcoming end of her daytime talk show. “I’m not crying,” Clarkson, 44, joked as the tears flowed during the Wednesday, May 27, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I’m like, shut it off, it’s OK.” The talk show host was overcome with emotion when her guest Rita Wilson […]
Us reached out to Art of Play for comment on Clarkson’s accusations.
The original American Idol winner has yet to share any further details about her allegedly unpleasant visit to the Brooklyn store.
Clarkson moved her two children — River Rose, 12, and Remington, 10 — from Los Angeles to New York City in 2023 as part of an overhaul to her daytime talk show. (River and Remington’s father — Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock — died at age 48 in August 2025 following a private three-year battle with cancer.)
The Kelly Clarkson Show wrapped up in August, having won an impressive 24 Daytime Emmy Awards throughout its seven-season run.
