Topline
A New York City puzzle store said it reached out to Kelly Clarkson directly to try and clear the air after she branded staff there “rude” and accused the business of being a “liar” on social media over the weekend, the latest in a viral dispute over her attempt to purchase a mechanical bird the store says was not for sale.
Kelly Clarkson and Brooklyn store Art of Play engaged in a back-and-forth on social media after Clarkson alleged she was treated poorly by store employees. (Photo by: Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty Images)
Tyler Golden/NBC via Getty Images
Key Facts
In the latest twist in a weekend-long dispute between Clarkson and Art of Play, the Brooklyn-based store responded to her accusation, saying in a statement early Monday it offered a nearly identical mechanical bird to the one Clarkson inquired about for $15,000, or a different mechanical bird for $2,000 when she visited the store Saturday.
Art of Play alleged Clarkson “did not stick around long enough” to see the different bird, claiming she only spent about five minutes in the store.
The business said it reached out to Clarkson privately to try and clarify the dispute, adding, “We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.”
Clarkson sparked an online uproar after she accused the store in a viral post Saturday of treating her as if she couldn’t afford the items she wanted to buy, allegedly showing her cheaper alternatives, which Clarkson said cost them a “huge sale.”
The store and Clarkson have since engaged in a public back-and-forth on social media, which escalated late Sunday after Clarkson branded the store a “liar” over its account of the interaction.
Forbes has reached out to Art of Play and Clarkson’s representatives for comment.
What Do We Know About The Clarkson-Art Of Play Dispute?
Clarkson said in a post Saturday she drove to Brooklyn to check out Art of Play because she thought it “looked really rad” and had items in mind to purchase, but she alleged she was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford” the items and was told by a worker they had comparable, cheaper alternatives. The post immediately went viral and prompted a response from Art of Play, which said in a statement on Instagram Clarkson had inquired about purchasing a mechanical bird named Molly, which was not for sale. Molly is permanently attached to the wall and plays a role in magic shows hosted at the store, Art of Play said. But the store said it was “suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store” after Clarkson’s post, saying it is a “surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage.” Clarkson swiftly disputed the store’s account, saying in another post, “So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it.” Clarkson alleged there was a price tag hanging near the mechanical bird she inquired about purchasing, alleging the employee she spoke with told her, “Yes, it’s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can.” Clarkson clarified she supports small businesses, but said “you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store.” In Art of Play’s second statement, posted early Monday, the store said the $15,000 bird it offered Clarkson was a nearly identical version of Molly created by Seattle-based artist Bliss Kolb, who said he was willing to part with it for that price. The store said it offered a different mechanical bird, made by a clockmaking shop in Germany, for $2,000, which she could have taken home with her that day, but she did not stay to see it.
tangent
The online back-and-forth sparked a viral debate, with some criticizing Clarkson for publicly shaming a small store to her large social media following, while others defended the singer from allegedly poor treatment. In one of the most-liked comments under Art of Play’s Instagram post, a user alleged they were subjected to the same treatment by “moody employees.” But in another comment, liked more than 3,000 times, a user claimed they had recently visited the store and saw a price tag near the mechanical bird. The store has been inundated with dozens of one-star reviews on Yelp since Clarkson’s post, causing its overall rating to dip to 2.8 stars out of 5, with many citing the store’s alleged treatment of the singer. Some patrons of Art of Play defended the store, including actor and author John Hodgman, who told his 100,000 Instagram followers the store is “magical” with “really kind” employees.
big number
50 million. That’s how many views Clarkson’s two posts on X detailing her experience at Art of Play have received in just two days. Her first post, made on Saturday afternoon, has garnered more than 42 million views and 264,000 likes.
what is art of play?
Art of Play is a small business located in Brooklyn Heights that sells games, puzzles and other home products. The store also has a small, 26-seat theater that hosts close-up magic shows, according to Art of Play’s website.
further reading
Kelly Clarkson slams New York store for alleged ‘Pretty Woman’ moment (USA Today)
Leave a comment