New Delhi, Oct. 12 -- NEW YORK - A shopping complaint by Kelly Clarkson has become a public dispute over both customer treatment and a mechanical bird, with Brooklyn curiosity shop Art of Play defending its staff and the singer challenging the business's explanation.

Clarkson first named the shop in an October 10 post on X, saying she arrived with several purchases in mind but felt an employee assumed she could not afford what she wanted. Art of Play responded the following day that the singing and dancing bird she asked about was a permanent installation, not merchandise available for purchase.

That response did not end the exchange. In a subsequent post Sunday evening, Clarkson said an employee had told her the item cost $15,000 and o...