Kelly Clarkson is locked in a public dispute with Art of Play, a Brooklyn curiosity shop, after the singer alleged she was treated poorly by staff.. the store has since raised the price of a mechanical bird named Molly to $15 million, up from $15,000.. This escalation follows a series of viral posts on X regarding the singer's visit to the store.
The $15 Million Price Tag for Molly the Automaton
Art of Play has dramatically increased the price of its mechanical singing bird, Molly, from $15,000 to $15 million. According to Fox News Digital, a new sign at the Brooklyn store identifies the bird as a creation of artist Bliss Kolb, with the new price reflecting a 1,000-fold increase from the original figure.
Adam Rubin, a co-owner of Art of Play, told Fox News Digital that the price hike is a result of supply and demand, noting that Molly has become one of the most recognizable mechanical birds globally due to the sudden notoriety. Despite the eye-popping price tag, Rubin maintained that the bird is not actually for sale, as it serves as a fixture for the shop's magic performances.
A $2,000 Alternative and the 'Pretty Woman' Allegation
The conflict began when Kelly Clarkson visited Art of Play and later claimed on X that an employee treated her as if she could not afford the merchandise. The Grammy winner compared the experience to the plot of the 1990 film Pretty Woman, alleging she was "elevator eyed" and spoken to in a condescending tone when inquiring about the bird.
In response, Art of Play stated via Instagram that the singer was in the store for only five minutes. The shop claimed they explained that Molly is permanently attached to the wall, but offered to facilitate the purchase of a nearly identical automaton from Seattle-based artist Bliss Kolb for $15,000. The store further asserted that they offered Clarkson a different singing bird from a German clockmaking shop priced at approximately $2,000 that she could have purchased immediately.
Adam Rubin’s Warnings of Doxing and Staff Threats
The dispute has moved beyond a disagreement over customer service to concerns over physical and digital safety. Adam Rubin told Fox News Digital that Kelly Clarkson's viral posts have put the staff of Art of Play in danger, claiming that people associated with the business have been threatened and doxed.
Rubin argued that the singer's massive platform constitutes an abuse of power, suggesting that the backlash has unfairly targeted a small business. He expressed frustration that strangers who have never visited the Brooklyn shop are participating in attacks against the store and its neighbors.
The Risks of Viral Call-Outs for Brooklyn Small Businesses
This incident reflects a growing trend where high-profile celebrities can instantaneously shift the public perception of a local business through a single social media post. For a small entity like Art of Play, the reach of a Grammy winner like Kelly Clarkson creates a power imbalance that can lead to real-world harassment, regardless of the initial accuracy of the claim.
Entertainment expert Jay Aldebert suggested that the situation could have been avoided if Kelly Clarkson had contacted the owner of Art of Play privately to resolve the issue before taking the complaint to her millions of followers. This pattern of "public shaming" often bypasses traditional conflict resolution in favor of immediate viral engagement.
The Mystery of the $15,000 Twin by Bliss Kolb
Several contradictions remain regarding the actual availability of the merchandise.. While Art of Play claims the $15,000 price tag referred to a twin bird owned by Bliss Kolb , Kelly Clarkson countered on X that she pointed to a price tag hanging directly on the wall for the bird in the store, calling the store's explanation a lie.
It remains unclear if Bliss Kolb, the Seattle artist, has been consulted regarding the use of his name in this dispute or if the "twin" automaton is still available for the original $15,000 price. Furthermore, the store has not clarified if the $15 million price tag is a genuine asking price or a satirical response to the viral attention.
Comments 0