A Brooklyn store that Kelly Clarkson accused of treating her as though she could not afford its merchandise has shared a glowing customer review praising its staff for their kindness, only to later delete the post amid the growing controversy.

Art of Play, a curiosity shop in Brooklyn, New York, reposted a customer’s positive review on its Instagram Story after the 44-year-old singer publicly complained about her shopping experience. The review highlighted the welcoming atmosphere and friendly service the customer said they received during their visit.

“From the very first time I walked into @artofplay, I felt welcomed and treated with such genuine kindness,” the customer wrote over an image of the store.

The review continued by praising the shop’s unusual finds and the people who work there, describing it as a place that leaves visitors smiling and eager to return. The customer also mentioned looking forward to another visit in two weeks.

However, the positive review did not remain on the store’s Instagram Story. Art of Play later deleted the post, drawing further attention to the situation.

The timing of the post came shortly after Clarkson shared her account of an alleged unpleasant encounter at the shop on Saturday, October 10.

The American Idol winner took to X to explain that she had traveled all the way to Brooklyn to visit Art of Play after seeing items that caught her attention. According to Clarkson, she had several things in mind to purchase but felt that a staff member judged her ability to afford them.

“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 to her nearly nine million followers.

Clarkson made it clear that she was unhappy with the alleged interaction, criticizing the employee for the way she said she had been treated.

“Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” she added.

Rather than simply expressing her frustration, the singer also offered a sarcastic recommendation to anyone considering a visit to the store.

“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 ,” she wrote.

Her reference to Pretty Woman recalled one of the 1990 romantic comedy’s most memorable scenes, in which Julia Roberts’ character, Vivian Ward, is dismissed by a snobbish saleswoman at an upscale boutique because of her appearance.

After finding the clothes she wanted elsewhere, Vivian returns to confront the employee who refused to help her. Carrying shopping bags from other stores, she delivers the now-famous line, “Big mistake. Big. Huge.”

By comparing her alleged experience to the scene, Clarkson suggested that she felt unfairly judged while trying to shop at Art of Play.

The store’s subsequent Instagram Story featuring a customer’s praise for its staff offered a contrasting account of the shopping experience, although the review did not mention Clarkson or directly address her allegations. Its later removal also left questions about the business’s response unanswered.

For now, Clarkson has not shared further details about the alleged encounter, and Art of Play has not provided a public explanation in the reported coverage. The controversy continues to draw attention as fans discuss the singer’s experience and the store’s now-deleted message about its staff’s kindness.