Art of Play, a Brooklyn store known for its unique merchandise, issued another statement addressing a viral controversy with singer Kelly Clarkson. The company defended itself against Clarkson’s accusation that they were dishonest about the price and availability of a mechanical bird puppet named Molly, which she was interested in purchasing during her visit to the shop. Art of Play claimed they informed Clarkson that while Molly herself is not for sale at $15,000 due to being a permanent fixture, an identical automaton could be purchased for $2,000. The store stated they reached out to Clarkson directly to resolve the misunderstanding but did not receive immediate feedback from her representatives.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, Kelly Clarkson took to X to accuse a Brooklyn store called Art of Play of treating her poorly when she visited to buy items. She claimed an employee looked at her as if she couldn’t afford the products and was offered something comparable instead. Comparing this treatment to a scene from "Pretty Woman," Clarkson urged fans to visit the shop only if they enjoy being treated poorly. The store initially responded by deleting and reposting positive reviews, then later explained that Clarkson had inquired about buying Molly, an automaton which is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. However, Clarkson refuted this claim on X, saying she was told it cost $15,000 and could be sold if she wanted a comparable item instead. Art of Play then clarified via Instagram that they offered her another singing bird automaton from Germany for $2,000 but claimed she didn't stay long enough to see it.
Written for “Kelly Clarkson Brooklyn Store Drama” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 6 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 73958 · logged 2026-10-12
The Brooklyn store Art of Play released another statement on their viral “misunderstanding” with Kelly Clarkson after being branded a “liar.”
asserted
store → release → Clarkson
The company wrote via Instagram early Monday morning that they wanted to “clarify one additional detail” about the singer’s “five-minute” visit to the curiosity shop inquiring about Molly, a mechanical bird puppet.
asserted
they → write → Molly
“We explained that while Molly is permanently attached to the wall and serves as a de facto mascot for our shop, a nearly identical automaton is owned by the creator of the machines, a brilliant artist named Bliss Kolb who lives in Seattle,” the statement read.
asserted
statement → explain → Seattle
“He told us he would be willing to part with Molly’s twin for $15,000.
asserted
he → tell → 15,000
We explained all of this to Kelly Clarkson,” they continued, claiming they “offered to show her a different singing bird automaton, made by a traditional clockmaking shop in Germany, that she could have taken home with her that day” for $2,000.
uncertain
she → explain → 2,000
The singer, per the statement, “did not stick around long enough to see” the item.
asserted
singer → stick → item
“We’ve reached out to Kelly directly to try and clear the air,” the social media upload concluded.
asserted
upload → reach → air
“We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.”
asserted
we → wish → misunderstanding
Clarkson’s rep did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
asserted
rep → respond → comment
The Grammy winner, 44, initially called out the Brooklyn Heights store via X on Saturday, comparing her experience to Julia Roberts’ character Vivian Ward in “Pretty Woman.”
asserted
winner → call → Woman
The songwriter wrote, “Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me.”
uncertain
he → write → me
Dubbing an employee an “idiot,” she wrote, “Wow, dude.
asserted
she → dub → employee
You … just lost a huge sale.”
asserted
You → lose → sale
“Yesterday, Kelly Clarkson visited us in Brooklyn and inquired about buying ‘Molly,’ a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here,” Sunday’s statement read.
asserted
statement → visit → shows
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall.”
asserted
Molly → attach → wall
Mentioning the “widespread outrage” they’d experienced online as Clarkson’s fans “suddenly attacked” them, they wrote, “We’re going to keep our heads down and hopefully we can clear things up with Kelly someday.
asserted
we → mention → Kelly
As a talented popular singer once said, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.'”
asserted
you → say → you
The “Voice” coach subsequently blasted the establishment’s “narrative.”
asserted
coach → blast → narrative
She tweeted, “So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen.
asserted
it → tweet → title
Clarkson alleged an associate “elevator-eyed” her and said “in a condescending tone” that the item cost $15,000.
asserted
item → allege → 15,000
“That all never happened and now it’s not for sale,” she concluded.
asserted
she → happen → sale
So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar.
asserted
you → ’re → ?
Conversation
Your voice matters.
asserted
voice → matter → ?
Discussions are moderated for civility.
asserted
Discussions → moderate → civility
The Aporia
