The small business drama involving Kelly Clarkson, a Brooklyn toy store, and an animatronic bird

Kelly Clarkson said she was treated like Julia Roberts' character in the '90s rom-com "Pretty Woman" when she visited a Brooklyn toy shop.

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Kelly Clarkson said a Brooklyn toy shop gave her the "Pretty Woman" treatment.

Here's how the dispute between Clarkson and the store unfolded.

A publicist said a celebrity pile-on can hurt a small business before people know the full story.

A Brooklyn toy shop has found itself at the center of a celebrity internet drama after Kelly Clarkson said she received the " Pretty Woman " treatment when she inquired about a $15,000 item in the store.

In an X post on Saturday, the singer said she had a negative experience at Art of Play, a toy store in New York City .

"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," Clarkson wrote in her post, adding that the store "just lost a huge sale." 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.

You’re an idiot and 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 👎 — Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026 She then compared her experience to the treatment Julia Roberts' character receives in the '90s rom-com "Pretty Woman," telling people to visit the store if they enjoyed being treated that way.

Clarkson's post on X had received more than 39.4 million views and over 261,000 likes as of Sunday evening.

As her post gained traction, Art of Play responded on Instagram the next day with its own account of the interaction, saying the toy Clarkson had inquired about was a bird automaton that's "permanently attached to the wall and isn't for sale." The store said it understood why Clarkson's account "would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop," but said that it welcomed visitors equally, whether they came to browse or buy.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Art of Play (@artofplay) "Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store.