You would think that at this point in her career, Kelly Clarkson would be one of America's most recognizable women. After all, she won American Idol, hosted The Kelly Clarkson Show, and toured the globe, releasing hit after hit.
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However, during a recent visit to an independent store in Brooklyn, New York, Clarkson went unrecognized. Usually, that would be a dream scenario for the pop star, as it would let her shop in peace. However, what could have been an incredible experience for her and the staff turned into a nightmare.
Clarkson took to social media to share her experience.
"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 on X. "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."
It's one thing not to recognize a pop star. Any one of us could make this mistake. It's another to assume someone in your store can't afford to be in there and then actively make it so they leave the premises.
Kelly Clarkson's Fans React to the Shocking Experience
After Clarkson's post on X, where she has 8.8 million followers, her fans began to share their shock at how she was treated.
"People saying 'maybe he didn't know who Kelly Clarkson was' are missing the point that they should be treating their customers like everyone is Kelly Clarkson," one user wrote in the comments.
Other users began sharing screenshots of Google reviews they'd left about the store. One of those reviews stated: "Had a rough experience, wasn't treated well, but then I came back with Richard Gere, and it went a little better."
Another user kept things simple: "Big mistake. Big. HUGE."
Clarkson was undoubtedly justified in putting the store on blast. The workers will likely think twice about judging someone by their appearance in the future. Still, that doesn't change the fact that Clarkson shouldn't have had to experience that in the first place.
