Kelly Clarkson has escalated her public dispute with a Brooklyn shop after accusing its staff of treating her as though she could not afford its merchandise. The singer responded sharply after the business, Art of Play, disputed her account of the encounter, prompting a fresh round of online debate over customer service, celebrity influence and the treatment of small businesses.
The controversy began when Clarkson visited the New York store hoping to purchase several items. She later described the experience as a real-life version of Pretty Woman, the 1990 film in which Julia Roberts' character is dismissed by boutique staff because of her appearance. What began as a complaint about an allegedly condescending interaction has since turned into a public disagreement over a $15,000 (about £11,300) singing bird automaton.
