A Brooklyn boutique is now offering its mechanical bird, Molly, for $15 million following a viral social media dispute with singer Kelly Clarkson.
Key facts
- •Kelly Clarkson visited the Brooklyn store Art of Play on a Saturday.
- •The shop initially stated the mechanical bird, Molly, was permanently attached to the wall and not for sale.
- •Clarkson claimed she was treated as if she could not afford the item, which she said had a $15,000 price tag.
- •The store released surveillance footage of the five-minute visit to clarify its account of the interaction.
- •Co-owner Adam Rubin stated that profits from a $15 million sale would fund employee bonuses and an automata display.
Art of Play, a novelty shop in Brooklyn, New York, has listed its mechanical bird, Molly, for sale at $15 million following a public disagreement with musician Kelly Clarkson. The dispute began after Clarkson visited the store and claimed she was treated poorly when inquiring about purchasing the bird, which the shop initially stated was a permanent, not-for-sale fixture. The store has since changed its stance, offering the automaton at the multi-million dollar price point.
By the numbers
The Dispute Over Molly
Kelly Clarkson alleged on social media that she was treated dismissively during a visit to Art of Play, comparing the experience to a scene from the film 'Pretty Woman.' Clarkson claimed she was told the bird cost $15,000 and that staff suggested she purchase a different item. The store countered that the bird was not for sale and that an employee had offered to help her source a similar automaton for $15,000 or a different singing bird for $2,000.
Store Response and Pricing
Following the viral attention, Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin confirmed the $15 million price tag for the bird. Rubin stated that if the sale occurs, he intends to provide each store employee with a $15,000 bonus, donate $1 million to the artist who created the bird, and use the remaining proceeds to build a display dedicated to automata.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Entertainment & Arts, NBC News Pop Culture.
