Kelly Clarkson accuses Brooklyn shop of lying about $15,000 bird
Kelly Clarkson says a Brooklyn curiosity shop misled her about a $15,000 singing bird, while the store claims the item wasn’t for sale and offered a cheaper alternative.
Kelly Clarkson alleged that Art of Play misrepresented the availability and price of a $15,000 singing bird, and the shop says the bird was never for sale and offered a $2,000 alternative. The dispute matters because it pits a high‑profile celebrity against a small New York business, highlighting how social‑media drama can quickly spiral into public accusations.
Kelly Clarkson publicly accused Brooklyn curiosity shop Art of Play of lying about a $15,000 singing bird, while the store’s Instagram post insists the bird was never for sale and that she was offered a $2,000 alternative. The clash centers on a brief, five‑minute interaction that both parties describe very differently.
What we know
According to Us Weekly, Clarkson posted on Saturday, October 10, that a store employee looked at her "as if [she] couldn’t afford it" and told her he could find something comparable for her, implying the $15,000 bird was for sale. She later wrote on X that the employee never said the bird was for sale and called the shop "a liar."
"So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag… didn’t happen as you elevator‑eyed me saying in a condescending tone ‘yes, it’s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars…’" – Clarkson, X post
Art of Play responded on Instagram on Sunday, October 11, saying the mechanical bird named Molly is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. The shop explained that a nearly identical automaton owned by its creator, Bliss Kolb, could be sold for $15,000, and that they offered Clarkson a different German‑made singing bird costing about $2,000, which she did not stay to see.
"During the 5 minutes she spent in the store, she inquired about our mechanical bird puppet named Molly… He told us he would be willing to part with Molly’s twin for $15,000. We explained all of this to Kelly Clarkson." – Art of Play, Instagram
The store added that it reached out to Clarkson directly to clear the air and expressed a wish to "laugh about this misunderstanding" someday. Clarkson, however, reiterated that she was there to support small businesses and felt she was treated disrespectfully.
Both sides claim they acted in good faith. Clarkson says she was misled and insulted; the shop says the bird was never for sale and that she left before seeing the cheaper option.
Background of the items
The bird in question is a mechanical automaton, described by the shop as a mascot named Molly. A twin version, owned by the artist Bliss Kolb in Seattle, is reportedly available for $15,000. The alternative offered by the shop is a traditional clockmaking‑shop bird from Germany, priced at about $2,000.
Public statements
Clarkson’s X post emphasized her support for small businesses while condemning the store’s alleged rudeness. She wrote, "I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things… It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you, my friend, were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t."
Art of Play’s Instagram message framed the episode as a misunderstanding, noting that the store had explained the situation and offered a lower‑priced alternative, then extended an invitation to resolve the issue directly with Clarkson.
Sources
File photo: vagueonthehow from Tadcaster, York, England / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0