Brooklyn novelty shop reeling from 'surreal' row with Kelly Clarkson

On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, a novelty toy and games store in a quiet part of New York City was seeing much busier foot traffic than usual. Inside, the shop was packed with cameramen and customers, while passersby in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Cobble Hill looked inside, asking where the famous bird was. Art of Play has found itself at the center of a social media storm since the weekend when Grammy-winning musician Kelly Clarkson complained online that the boutique store would not let her buy a singing and dancing mechanical bird that was perched on the wall.

The Since U Been Gone singer claimed she was looked at as if she could not afford the bird, which she said had a price tag of $15,000. She publicly criticized the business by referencing a scene from the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman, where Julia Roberts' character is treated poorly by staff at a high-end shop who imply she cannot afford their luxury items. In a follow-up post, Clarkson claimed the store had told her the bird cost $15,000 and that they could find her something else comparable.

Art of Play quickly defended how it treated the star on social media and in interviews. The boutique clarified that the wooden bird, which is called Molly, is permanently attached to the wall as a display piece and is simply not for sale. According to the shop, during Clarkson's five-minute visit on Saturday, an employee suggested to her that she could commission or order an identical bird for $15,000. They also stated they had offered her a different singing bird for $2,000 from a clock-making shop in Germany that she could have purchased immediately.

The fallout from the celebrity complaint brought intense unwanted attention to the independent store. The business noted the shock of suddenly facing backlash from millions of internet users who had never stepped foot in their establishment, describing the ordeal as a deeply surreal experience. Meanwhile, curiosity seekers and fans flooded the location, eager to see the disputed display and understand the context of the online dispute.

As the story circulated widely across news and entertainment platforms, it reignited conversations about the power of celebrity social media reach and the vulnerability of small local businesses in the digital age. While Clarkson defended her decision to speak out about customer service, the staff at Art of Play expressed hope that the temporary media circus would eventually settle, allowing the boutique to return to its usual quiet community atmosphere in Cobble Hill.