Kelly Clarkson vs. Art of Play: New Footage Shows Her Visit to the Brooklyn Store She Called Out

Security footage of Kelly Clarkson’s visit to the Brooklyn novelty store she criticized on Saturday has been obtained and released by Pablo Torre, host and executive editor of the investigative podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” The video adds another perspective to the ongoing dispute between Clarkson and the shop, Art of Play. How the Dispute Began Clarkson alleged that she got the “Pretty Woman” treatment at the store, claiming an employee looked at her as though she couldn’t afford Molly, a $15,000 bird automaton she asked about buying. “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” she wrote on X before naming the business. What the Footage Shows In the video, Clarkson wears a baseball cap, a bright yellow T-shirt, baggy jeans and a backpack. She enters with her children, browses and picks up a few items as more shoppers come in. A second camera angle shows her standing in front of the automaton bird, where she gets the attention of an employee. He speaks with her and points at something near the bird, though it isn’t clear what. The footage has no audio. The two then part ways as he turns to help other customers. Clarkson puts back the items she was holding and heads for the door. Before leaving, she turns to another employee behind the front counter and gestures, seemingly upset about the earlier exchange. Other shoppers glance her way. Her whole visit lasted less than five minutes, and her first post about it went up 15 minutes after she left. Dueling Statements Art of Play responded on Sunday, saying the bird is “permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale” and plays an important role in the magic shows the store hosts. Clarkson was skeptical. She replied that the narrative was convenient, saying she had asked whether the bird was for sale while pointing at a price tag on the wall labeled “Singing Bird.” She wrote that the employee looked her up and down and told her, in a condescending tone, that it was for sale at $15,000 and offered to find something comparable. Fallout for the Store Opinion online is split. Some strongly side with Clarkson, while others have questioned her motives for calling out a small business across her social media accounts. In an interview with Inside Edition on Tuesday, store owner Adam Rubin said the shop has been review-bombed since Clarkson named it, and that employees and nearby businesses have been harassed. He said the staff fears for their safety, accused Clarkson of putting them in danger, and called the episode “social warfare.” Rubin also offered his explanation for why Clarkson may have felt poorly treated. The shop was crowded, he said, and she was dressed like everyone else, so staff treated her like a normal customer, which apparently didn’t meet her expectations. Art of Play is described as a specialty curiosity shop and online retailer.