Kelly Clarkson says Brooklyn shop gave her a Pretty Woman snub

Kelly Clarkson says a shopping trip in Brooklyn ended with staff deciding she could not afford the shop.

The singer wrote on X on Saturday, Oct. 10, that she had driven to Brooklyn to visit a store she thought looked rad. She said she had a few items in mind to buy, according to Billboard.

Instead, Clarkson said she was looked over as if she could not pay for anything in the store. She said an employee told her they could find something comparable for her. She named the business as Art of Play, described as a high-end novelty shop in Brooklyn by the New York Daily News.

"You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale," Clarkson wrote in her post, addressing the employee.

She compared the moment to Pretty Woman. In the 1990 film, shop assistants refuse to serve Julia Roberts' character because of how she looks. Clarkson said she received the same treatment.

Art of Play did not post a direct reply to Clarkson. The shop responded through Instagram Stories by sharing messages from customers defending the store, Billboard reported.

One of those messages was a positive customer review praising the kindness of the staff, shared as the dispute over Clarkson's complaint spread, according to Page Six.

What makes this stand out is how familiar the story feels. Shoppers recognised the film reference at once. The shop is leaning on its regulars to tell a different story.