You might have seen that Kelly Clarkson caused a viral online feud this month after claiming she received the classic ‘Pretty Woman’ treatment at Art of Play, a curiosity shop in Brooklyn Heights.
But are you upto date with the current story?
It all started when the American Idol alum and former talk-show host said a staffer looked at her as if she couldn’t afford a high-end item and offered her something “comparable” instead. The store called it a misunderstanding over a singing mechanical bird that wasn’t for sale.
The back-and-forth quickly escalated, complete with accusations of lying, public backlash against the small business, a $15 million price hike, and video footage of the visit. Last Saturday, Clarkson posted on X after driving to the shop. She wrote that she went there because it “looked really rad” and had items in mind to buy, but “literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me.” She added, “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” and sarcastically told followers to visit “if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman.”
The comparison references the famous scene in which snobby saleswomen dismiss Julia Roberts’ character at a high-end boutique.
Clarkson’s post went viral right away and prompted waves of criticism and negative reviews directed at the store.
Some criticism went back to Clarkson, with some asking: if you’re famous, can you make a public complaint like this?
The Store’s Response: ‘Molly’ Wasn’t for Sale
Art of Play, a small local business selling toys, games, puzzles, and home goods and hosting magic shows, replied the next day on Instagram. They said Clarkson asked about “Molly,” a one-of-a-kind singing-and-dancing bird automaton created by Seattle artist Bliss Kolb. Molly is permanently attached to the wall, serves as a de facto mascot, and plays a role in the store’s performances. It is not for sale.
The store acknowledged that “the negative experience Kelly described on Twitter would connect with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop”. It stressed that it welcomes browsers and buyers equally. They expressed surprise at the intensity of the reaction: their small business was “suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store.”
Clarkson pushed back, sharing a photo of a $15,000 price tag labelled “Singing Bird” near the automaton. She described what happened: while pointing at the tag, the employee told her in a “condescending tone”, “Yes, it’s for sale, but it costs $15,000, so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you, I can.” She concluded the store was “not only rude, but you’re also a liar.”
The Store’s Clarification
Art of Play followed up with more details. During the roughly five minutes Clarkson spent in the store, staff explained that Molly itself wasn’t available, but a nearly identical automaton owned by its creator, Bliss Kolb, in Seattle was available for $15,000. They also offered to show her a different singing bird automaton (made by a traditional German clockmaking shop) priced around $2,000 that she could take home that day. The store said she left before seeing it.
They said they reached out to Clarkson privately to clear the air and hoped everyone could eventually laugh about the “misunderstanding.”
The story continued to grow. Independent journalist/podcaster Pablo Torre obtained and aired silent surveillance video of the visit (Clarkson in a baseball cap, yellow T-shirt, and joggers, lasting about 4 minutes 50 seconds). It shows her browsing, speaking with an employee near Molly (who points toward tags), and later gesturing energetically while speaking with another staffer near the counter before leaving. Without audio, it doesn’t settle the exact words exchanged.
Co-owner Adam Rubin described the situation as an “insane misunderstanding.” He said nothing in the shop justified her public scolding of the shopkeeper, but things changed when she used her large platform. The store later reported facing threats, abusive messages, and review bombs. In a striking development, they raised Molly’s listed price to $15 million “due to popular demand” after so many people inquired about it.
Molly is a handcrafted, crank-operated wooden automaton modelled after an American goldfinch. Turning the crank makes it move in multiple ways and produce birdsong via a whistle. Kolb’s similar pieces typically range from a few thousand to around $12,000–$15,000 depending on the work.
Both sides maintain their accounts: Clarkson says she was condescended to and that the conversation about the $15,000 price tag happened; the store says Molly was never for sale (as a wall-mounted mascot), they explained the Seattle twin and offered a cheaper alternative, and the whole thing was a short misunderstanding that blew up online. The store said it supports the idea that people shouldn’t feel judged while shopping, while Clarkson said she generally supports small businesses but doesn’t think that excuses poor treatment.
So who do you think will take home the bird at the end of this saga?
