Raven-Symoné Defends Kelly Clarkson Over Viral Brooklyn Store Drama: "Fame Doesn't Erase Feelings"

Kelly Clarkson found herself at the center of an unexpected internet firestorm after tweeting about a less-than-welcoming experience at Brooklyn’s Art of Play. The Voice alum said she felt like Julia Roberts’character in Pretty Woman when the store refused to sell her a $15,000 animatronic bird named Molly, despite her being ready to pay. The tweet went viral fast, and the store’s co-owner, Adam Rubin, fired back claiming her post endangered his staff. Enter Raven-Symoné, who weighed in during The View’s October 14 episode with a defense that hit close to home.

Raven argued that having a massive platform shouldn’t disqualify someone from sharing how they were made to feel. She pointed to her own 2016 red carpet moment with Kendall Jenner, which turned into a viral pile-on she never asked for, as proof that the internet doesn’t need an invitation to attack. Raven also noted that Kelly grew up without financial comfort before American Idol changed her life, which might explain why being denied something in that way stung more than expected. And her sharpest point? Kelly never told anyone to go after the store. The mob was already on standby.

So where do you land on this? Should celebrities be able to share their unfiltered experiences without being accused of weaponizing their following, or should they know better given their platform? Drop your take in the comments and let’s hash it out.