Kelly Clarkson, Art of Play feud: Store lists bird for $15 million

Oct. 13, 2026Updated Oct. 14, 2026, 6:44 a.m. ET

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Amid an ongoing dispute with Kelly Clarkson, New York City specialty store Art of Play has been met with both backlash and support – and it’s responding by listing the animatronic bird at the center of the controversy for sale at a massive markup.

The curiosity shop in Brooklyn has been embroiled in a back-and-forth with the singer, who took to social media on Oct. 10 to accuse the store of treating her as if she couldn’t afford a $15,000 mechanical singing bird named Molly. She compared her visit that day to the famous scene from “Pretty Woman,” in which Julia Roberts’ character is turned away from a high-end boutique.

The shop responded with a series of statements pushing back on Clarkson’s claims, saying the yellow wooden bird was not for sale and calling what happened a misunderstanding. Clarkson fired back with another post, calling the shop owner “rude” and a “liar.”

The feud quickly went viral online. Some sided with the New York-owned shop and argued Clarkson was punching down at a local business. Others defended the singer and shared their experiences of being slighted by salespeople.

Adam Rubin, 43, one of the co-owners of Art of Play, told USA TODAY the store has been overwhelmed since Clarkson blasted the shop to her 8.8 million followers on X. He said the store’s phone and emails have been flooded with threatening messages, and their neighbors have been doxxed.

At the same time, sales have surged and they’re seeing a spike in foot traffic. In the wake of the controversy, Rubin said the bird is now on sale and upped the price to $15 million.

“This has been a very surreal experience,” he said.

Art of Play store owner fears safety of workers after Kelly Clarkson visit

Rubin said the day after Clarkson’s post, the store began receiving threatening phone calls and nasty online reviews. He said a neighbor called the police after one person entered the store and accused its employees of racially profiling Clarkson.

“We are afraid for the safety of our shopkeepers,” Rubin said. “Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger.”

In her initial post, Clarkson said she was “literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford” the bird, “and was told he could find something comparable for me.” In Art of Play’s social media responses, the company said the bird “is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale” but that it offered to show her another singing bird made by a different artist, which cost $2,000.

Art of Play, located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, offers an eccentric collection of home goods and puzzles that includes everything from a $1,200 applause machine to custom playing cards. In the back of the shop there’s a 26-seat theater where magic shows are put on.

Rubin said no one in the shop recognized Clarkson when she walked in. He added that the store was “packed” and that Clarkson was there for “less than five minutes.”

“We treated her like a normal person but apparently that did not live up to her expectations,” Rubin said, alleging that Clarkson scolded an employee. He did not provide further details.

“Nothing happened in this shop to justify her scolding our shopkeeper on the way out, but I could let that go. Everybody has a bad day,” he said. “But things changed when she used her platform to attack us. It’s asymmetrical social warfare.”

Art of Play lists Molly the bird on sale for $15M

Clarkson has pushed back on the shop’s claim that Molly the bird was not for sale. In a post on X, Clarkson included a photo of a price tag next to the bird that reads $15,000.

Rubin said the price tag did not refer to Molly. Instead, the tag showed how much it would cost to order a custom bird from its creator, Seattle artist Bliss Kolb.

“We have our automaton. So many people asked about it that we put a price on it,” Rubin said. “We talked to the creator and if someone showed serious interest, we would reach out to him about getting them an automaton.”

“They take years to make,” he said. “This is not something that’s sitting in a warehouse.”

With all the attention, Rubin said he decided to list the bird for sale for $15 million.

He said he already knows what he would do if someone bought Molly. He said he would give every employee in the shop $15,000 and pay the bird’s creator $1 million. With the rest of the money, Rubin would buy a load of antique automatons.

The antiques would be housed in a large glass display, he continued. Above the display, he’d put up a large sign reading “Not for sale.”

Neighbors, visitors weigh in on the feud

Despite the backlash, Rubin – who cut his recovery from a skin cancer operation short to help the shop manage – said the store has received support from the local community. Sales online have surged, as has the number of in-store purchases.

On Monday, Oct. 12, when the shop was closed, people left gifts and pastries for the shopkeepers.

“People are coming here almost entirely in support,” Rubin said.

Paul Lipson, 80, of Michigan, visited the store on Oct. 13 with his wife and daughter, whom he is visiting. They heard about the controversy and wanted to see the shop for themselves. “The store is great,” Lipson said. “It’s very unique.”

Speaking about the feud, Lipson said the “whole thing is silly.”