Kelly Clarkson claimed that a shopkeeper in Brooklyn judged her based on her looks, and new security footage is showing what transpired in the store. The internet has been closely following Clarkson’s disagreement with a shopkeeper she encountered recently. After Clarkson’s tweets expressing her frustration, the shopkeeper received backlash, leading to the shop’s owner accusing the singer of misusing her influence to hurt their business.
The security footage from Art of Play in Brooklyn Heights was shown on a recent episode of Pablo Torre’s podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out.” Torre indicated that Clarkson spent just under five minutes in the store. In the footage, Clarkson can be seen wearing a yellow shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap as she browsed the store’s items. She played with a telescope before noticing “Molly,” a rare mechanical bird created by artist Bliss Kolb.
Molly, when wound up, can sing, dance, and move in a lifelike way. Clarkson’s tweet about the shopkeeper being “rude” suggested that the shopkeeper doubted she could afford the bird, which has a price tag of $15,000. The footage without sound showed Clarkson speaking with the shopkeeper and pointing at Molly. After a brief conversation, the shopkeeper appeared to direct his focus to another customer.
The video captured Clarkson putting the telescope back and heading toward the exit. Just before leaving, she appeared frustrated and said something to the cashier, with customers watching her leave. Torre noted that Clarkson’s casual outfit was similar to that of other shoppers, suggesting she wasn’t treated poorly because of her clothing.
Torre also revealed that Molly is one of only two birds made by Kolb, with the other being owned by the artist himself. Clarkson’s tweet implied that the shopkeeper thought she couldn’t afford the bird.
Previously, Art of Play was a niche shop known for its unique toys and games. However, it gained national attention after Clarkson tweeted about her unfriendly experience there. In her tweet, she mentioned that she traveled to Brooklyn to visit the store and felt looked down upon as if she couldn’t afford anything. She stated that the staff suggested finding something else for her and criticized their behavior.
Following the response to Clarkson’s tweet, Art of Play clarified that Molly was not for sale. This led Clarkson to post again, saying that this was the “narrative” the store had chosen to protect itself. What do you think about the situation between Clarkson and the store?
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Source: Bored Panda, by Lei RV