A quiet corner of Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood turned into a media focal point this week as Art of Play, a local toy and novelty shop, found itself at the center of a viral controversy. The boutique has been inundated with camera crews and onlookers following a social media post by singer Kelly Clarkson, who claimed staff treated her as if she could not afford a $15,000 mechanical bird on display. A novelty toy and games store in a quiet part of New York City was seeing much busier foot traffic than usual, on a rainy Wednesday afternoon. Inside, the shop was packed with cameramen and customers, while passersby in this Brooklyn neighbourhood of Cobble Hill looked inside, asking: “Where’s the bird. According to the Since U Been Gone singer claimed she was “looked at as if I couldn’t afford” the bird – which she, Had a price tag of $15,000 (£11,000). Y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman,” she said, referring to a scene from the 1990 romantic comedy film where Roberts’ character is treated poorly by staff at a shop, who imply she cannot afford various items. Shopgoer Emily Trantanella, 27, said: “I feel like a pretty woman and I’ve always been treated very well here. She comes back in to say something animatedly to the cashier.
Clarkson compared her experience to the iconic shopping scene inPretty Womansuggesting her followers avoid the store. The shop has firmly denied these claims, asserting that the bird—known as Molly—is a permanent fixture attached to the wall and is not for sale.
Store Response and Interactions
- Staff Conduct: The shop maintains that during the five-minute interaction on Saturday, an employee offered to order an identical bird for $15,000.
- Alternative Options: Staff also reportedly suggested a different mechanical bird, priced at $2,000, sourced from a German clockmaker, which was available for immediate purchase.
- The Business Stance: Management stated they were unprepared for the sudden backlash from millions of online users who have never visited the physical location, describing the situation as a surreal experience.
The shop’s owner told CBS News that the singer’s public remarks have led to a surge in harassment and threats against employees, leaving them concerned for their safety. One incident captured on video showed a man yelling expletives outside the storefront and accusing the business of racially profiling Clarkson.
Amid the digital dispute, news outlets have released grainy, silent surveillance footage from the Saturday visit. The video shows Clarkson in a cap and backpack browsing the store before speaking with a staff member and pointing toward the mechanical display. She is later seen leaving, only to return to the counter to speak to an employee in a visibly animated manner. She can be seen talking with an employee – apparently about the bird as she points at it – and later moving to leave the store.
Shop Status and Neighborhood Reaction
- Current Pricing: As of Wednesday, Molly the bird remained on the wall, accompanied by a humorous sign labeling it the world’s most famous singing bird automata, with an
- Local Sentiment: Neighbors and long-time customers have largely expressed confusion over the controversy. Residents like Kiran Ramineni described the establishment as a friendly, small-scale mom-and-pop store.
- Customer Experiences: Shoppers like 27-year-old Emily Trantanella reported never having been treated poorly at the shop, noting that their interactions with staff have consistently been positive.
While the online debate persists, the shop’s personnel have indicated they no longer intend to comment on the matter, aiming to resume standard operations despite the continued presence of journalists outside the storefront.
Important Details
- It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.
- Molly the mechanical bird now has a price tag of $15m.
- Saying: “I never blast people but you my friend were an exception, clarkson defended her decision to criticise the store on social media.
- There were more reporters than customers, when visited the store on Wednesday.
- According to a shopkeeper, They would not comment on the story anymore and just wanted to get back to business as usual.
