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Kelly Clarkson is facing fresh criticism after accusing a Brooklyn store of judging her during a shopping trip, as security footage emerges and past workplace claims resurface.
The released footage shows parts of her visit but leaves the key conversation unheard. (News18 File Photo and X/@erikaxtc)
Singer and TV host Kelly Clarkson is facing fresh criticism after a disagreement with a Brooklyn store over how she was treated during a shopping trip. The dispute began when Clarkson said staff members appeared to judge her ability to pay for an expensive item she wanted to see.
The store has denied her claims, saying the item was not for sale and that she was treated like any other customer. Security camera footage of her visit has since been released, leading to debate online. The controversy has also brought renewed attention to claims about the work environment at The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2023.
Clarkson Says Brooklyn Store Staff Judged Her
Clarkson visited Art of Play, a shop in Brooklyn known for its unusual toys and gifts. She later took to X to describe what she called a “Pretty Woman” moment, referring to the 1990 film in which Julia Roberts plays a woman who is treated poorly at an upscale shop.
The singer said she had travelled to the store because she was interested in buying several items. However, she claimed the staff made assumptions about what she could afford after she asked about an animatronic bird priced at $15,000.
“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,” she wrote.
The store pushed back against her account, saying the bird was not available for purchase and that its staff had treated her fairly. Clarkson rejected the store’s explanation and called the owner a “liar”.
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
Security Footage Shows Clarkson Looking At Items
Art of Play later released security camera footage showing Clarkson inside the store. The clip shows her looking at different items and interacting with staff during the visit.
However, the footage does not include the exact conversation between Clarkson and the employees. This has left viewers divided over what happened, with some questioning the singer’s account and others saying the clip does not prove that she was treated fairly.
The dispute also reportedly led to a rise in negative reviews for the store and increased attention from people online. While the footage offers a look at parts of the visit, it does not settle the disagreement over what was said.
THE KELLY CLARKSON STORE VIDEO IS OUT 💀 https://t.co/M0hvquAeNx— Erika (@erikaxtc) October 14, 2026
Past Claims About Clarkson’s Show Return To Focus
The latest dispute has also brought back attention to a 2023 report about the workplace culture behind The Kelly Clarkson Show. At the time, current and former employees spoke to Rolling Stone about what they described as a difficult work environment. The report included claims of bullying, intimidation and inappropriate behaviour involving executive producer Alex Duda and other senior staff members.
One former employee called Duda “a monster” and claimed she “yelled and cursed” at workers. Another staff member alleged that the show’s production manager often lost his temper, describing incidents of “cursing, raising his voice, and throwing a huge temper tantrum.” The employee also claimed that the manager once threw a stapler across the workplace.
The report also raised concerns about racial insensitivity, pay and the treatment of employees who spoke up about problems. Some workers said they had taken their complaints to human resources but felt that their concerns had not been properly addressed.
According to Rolling Stone, 11 current and former staff members who spoke to the publication believed Clarkson herself did not know how serious the problems they described had become. Some reportedly praised the singer while raising concerns about the people managing the show.
Clarkson And NBCUniversal Responded To The Claims
Clarkson addressed the workplace allegations in an Instagram post in 2023, saying she did not want anyone working on her show to feel disrespected or ignored. “In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I’ve always led with my heart and what I believed to be right,” she stated in an Instagram post on Friday.
She also expressed support for her team and said she wanted to make sure employees were treated well as the show prepared to move to New York. “I love my team at ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ and to find out that anyone is feeling unheard and or disrespected on this show is unacceptable… As we prepare for a move to the East Coast, I am more committed than ever to ensuring that not only our team that is moving, but also our new team in NY is comprised of the best and kindest in the business.”
NBCUniversal also responded to the 2023 report, rejecting suggestions that workplace complaints were being ignored. “We are committed to a safe and respectful work environment and take workplace complaints very seriously and to insinuate otherwise is untrue,” a spokesperson stated.
“When issues are reported, they are promptly reviewed, investigated, and acted upon as appropriate. The Kelly Clarkson Show strives to build a safe, respectful and equitable workplace that nurtures a culture of inclusivity and creativity.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18.
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Ask News18Kelly Clarkson criticized the Brooklyn store Art of Play on X, claiming staff judged her ability to afford an expensive animatronic bird priced at $15,000 and treated her poorly. The store denied her claims, stating the item was not for sale and that she was treated like any other customer.
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October 15, 2026, 1:25 PM IST
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