Kelly Clarkson’s controversial shopping trip to a Brooklyn boutique has taken another unexpected turn after newly released CCTV footage captured the singer’s interaction with store employees, days after she accused the business of giving her the “Pretty Woman” treatment.
The surveillance video, released on Tuesday, October 13, by journalist Pablo Torre on his investigative podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out, shows the Grammy-winning singer browsing Art of Play, a novelty and magic shop in Brooklyn Heights, before engaging with staff over a mechanical bird reportedly valued at $15,000.
© GC ImagesThe footage has added a new dimension to the increasingly public dispute between Clarkson, 44, and the store’s owners, who have strongly denied her allegations of condescending customer service.
It is important to highlight that the CCTV footage has no audio, meaning it cannot confirm precisely what was said during the encounter.
What Does Kelly Clarkson’s Store CCTV Footage Show?
Clarkson spent approximately four minutes and 50 seconds inside Art of Play on Saturday, October 10. The singer was dressed casually in a bright yellow T-shirt, loose-fitting jeans, a baseball cap, and a backpack. She was accompanied by her children.
The video shows Clarkson examining merchandise, including an optical toy, before approaching a mechanical singing bird named Molly, which has become the centerpiece of the disagreement.
Clarkson appears to ask a store employee about the bird. The employee gestures toward the display, and the two exchange a few words before going their separate ways.
Later, Clarkson is seen returning merchandise to the shelves and approaching another employee near the front counter. She gestures animatedly before leaving the store. Other customers appear to look toward her during the exchange.
While the footage provides a visual account of Clarkson’s brief visit, it does not establish whether the employee spoke to her disrespectfully or assumed she could not afford the merchandise.
Why Did Kelly Clarkson Accuse the Brooklyn Store of ‘Pretty Woman’ Treatment?
The dispute began shortly after Clarkson visited the boutique. On October 10, the former American Idol winner shared a complaint on X, formerly Twitter, claiming an employee had judged her appearance and suggested a less expensive alternative to an item she wanted to purchase.
Clarkson wrote: “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.”
© Art Streiber/NBC via Getty ImageShe continued: “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale.”
Clarkson then named Art of Play and compared her experience to Julia Roberts’ character Vivian Ward in the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman.
In the film, Vivian is dismissed by employees at an upscale clothing boutique because of her appearance. She later returns after shopping elsewhere and confronts the saleswoman who underestimated her.
© Getty ImagesClarkson’s reference immediately drew attention, with fans debating whether the singer had experienced unfair treatment or whether the exchange was simply a misunderstanding. Her complaint also placed the small Brooklyn business under intense public scrutiny.
Art of Play Responds to Kelly Clarkson’s Allegations
Art of Play quickly disputed Clarkson’s account, explaining that the mechanical bird she wanted to purchase was not available for sale. In a statement shared on Instagram, the business explained: “Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale.”
The owners said Molly was a distinctive mechanical singing and dancing bird used during the store’s magic performances. They also explained that a similar automaton, created by Seattle-based artist Bliss Kolb, could potentially be purchased for $15,000.
According to the business, staff additionally offered to show Clarkson another singing bird made by a German clockmaking company, priced at approximately $2,000. The store maintained that Clarkson left before seeing the alternative.
Its explanation raised further questions because Clarkson had photographed a $15,000 price tag displayed near the bird.
The business subsequently described the incident as a misunderstanding and said it had attempted to contact the singer to resolve the disagreement.
Kelly Clarkson Fires Back Over the $15,000 Price Tag
Clarkson was not satisfied with the boutique’s explanation. Responding to the store’s statement, she shared a photograph of the bird’s displayed price tag and challenged the suggestion that the item had never been available for purchase. “Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale,” Clarkson wrote sarcastically.
She then alleged that the employee had looked her up and down before explaining that the bird cost $15,000 and offering to find something comparable. Clarkson described the employee’s tone as condescending and rejected the store’s account of their conversation.
© Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesHer response made clear that she believed the issue was not simply whether the bird could be purchased, but how she had been treated while asking about it. The store, meanwhile, maintained that its employee was explaining the availability of a rare item rather than making assumptions about Clarkson’s finances.
Store Owner Says Kelly Clarkson’s Complaint Put Employees in Danger
As the disagreement attracted widespread attention, Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin publicly criticized Clarkson for using her substantial social media following to call out a small business.
Speaking to Inside Edition, Rubin said: “We are afraid for the safety of our shopkeepers. Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger.”
He claimed that employees and nearby businesses had experienced harassment following Clarkson’s posts. Rubin also argued that the singer had been treated like any other customer during a busy shopping period. “When Kelly came in, the shop was crowded,” he explained, adding that staff had treated her as a normal shopper.
In a separate interview with Page Six, Rubin described the backlash as a “reprehensible abuse of power.” He said the controversy had prompted threatening messages directed at the business and its employees. Rubin’s comments represent the store owner’s account of the fallout.
Retail Workers’ Union Weighs In on the Clarkson Controversy
The disagreement has also prompted a response from the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. In a public statement, union president Stuart Appelbaum criticized harassment directed at retail employees and emphasized the responsibilities of customers with large public platforms. “No customer has the right to abuse retail workers on the floor or mobilize online harassment against them,” they said.
Appelbaum stressed that retail workers frequently have little control over pricing, inventory, and sales policies.
What Have Sources Close to Kelly Clarkson Said?
Despite the criticism directed at Clarkson, people familiar with the singer have defended her character. A source speaking to Page Six suggested that the public complaint was unusual for the entertainer, who is generally regarded as approachable and friendly. “If she's actually calling out a store publicly, she must've been livid,” the insider said.
© Cindy OrdAnother remark described Clarkson as “one of the nicest people ever.” The comments suggest that those close to the singer believe something about the encounter genuinely upset her.
As of October 14, Clarkson’s representatives had not provided a new public statement specifically addressing the released CCTV footage.
