On a street in Brooklyn, singer Kelly Clarkson walked into Art of Play, a high-end curiosity shop that sells games and novelty items.
asserted
that → walk → games
The store on Atlantic Avenue is lined with quirky merchandise that includes speciality playing cards, kinetic sculptures and boxes of puzzles.
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that → line → puzzles
During the five minutes Clarkson spent in the store, one specific toy caught her attention: a mechanical yellow bird mounted on the wall.
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toy → spend → wall
Its name is Molly, and days later it would become one of the most famous birds on the internet for all the wrong reasons.
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it → become → reasons
The saga began last weekend when the Grammy-winning singer made a post on X claiming she felt judged by staff while trying to make a purchase in the store.
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she → begin → store
Here's how the online feud unfolded.
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feud → unfold → ?
The visit and first accusation
The whole saga began when Clarkson visited Art of Play on Saturday, October 10.
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Clarkson → begin → Saturday
While looking around, she spotted Molly, a handcrafted, singing and dancing bird, mounted on the shop's wall.
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she → look → wall
Nearby was a price tag showing $US15,000 ($21,400).
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tag → show → US15,000
She then asked staff about the bird.
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She → ask → bird
Shortly after leaving the store, Clarkson posted on X and accused the store of treating her like she couldn't afford to buy Molly.
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she → leave → Molly
Clarkson compared her experience to the famous scene from the 1990 film Pretty Woman, in which Julia Roberts' character is dismissed by staff at a high-end boutique.
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character → compare → boutique
"Y'all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman," she said on X to her 8.8 million followers.
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she → go → followers
You're an idiot and just lost a huge sale."
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You → lose → sale
Clarkson also claimed the staff member said he could find her "something comparable".
uncertain
he → claim → something
No-one was prepared for what came next.
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what → prepare → ?
The online back-and-forth begins
Art of Play responded the following day with a statement against Clarkson's claims.
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Art → begin → claims
"Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by eight million people who have never visited our store," they said on Instagram.
"Hopefully we can clear things up with Kelly someday."
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we → imagine → Kelly
The statement also said Molly was never actually for sale because she served as a mascot and fixture of the store.
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she → say → store
Apparently not, with Clarkson firing back with another post which included a photo (which was not taken by her) of a price tag next to the bird that appears to read $15,000.
"Sure, it wasn't for sale," Clarkson said.
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Clarkson → fire → sale
"So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag … didn't happen …
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it → have → tag
She went on to say she loves and supports small businesses: "I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.
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you → go → people
The feud quickly went viral online.
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feud → go → ?
Some people defended the store, sharing positive experiences from past visits and arguing Clarkson had unfairly targeted a small business.
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Clarkson → defend → business
"Art of Play is one of the most special places I've ever visited!
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I → visit → places
I've enjoyed your magic multiple times and your invitation to always play!," actor Michelle Monaghan wrote.
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Monaghan → enjoy → magic
"I've been to the store MANY times and I've only ever seen them put smiles on people's faces and inspire wonder and curiosity.
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them → see → wonder
It's sad to see how quickly people buy only one narrative to the story," another customer wrote.
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customer → see → story
Others, including customers who claimed to have had similar experiences, criticised the store's response and argued it should have apologised.
"You have such a greatly curated shop but the several times I've been in I'm met with rude or obnoxious behaviour by your staff to us or to other customers," one user wrote.
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user → include → customers
"This is a terrible statement, please take some accountability," another said.
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another → take → accountability
The mystery of the price tag
The store later expanded on its initial explanation, saying staff told Clarkson the price tag did not specifically refer to Molly.
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tag → expand → Molly
Instead, the tag showed how much it would cost to order a similar custom bird from its creator, Seattle artist Bliss Kolb.
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it → show → creator
"He [Kolb] told us he would be willing to part with Molly's twin for $15,000.
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he → tell → 15,000
We explained all of this to Kelly Clarkson," the store wrote.
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store → explain → Clarkson
Art of Play also said staff offered to show Clarkson another mechanical bird made by a German clockmaker that she could take home that day for $2,000.
uncertain
she → say → 2,000
"She did not stick around long enough to see it," the business said.
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business → stick → it
Surveillance footage emerges
Just when the story appeared to be cooling down, it took another turn.
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it → emerge → turn
Investigative podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out released surveillance video from Art of Play that purportedly showed Clarkson's visit.
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that → find → visit
The grainy footage, which has no audio, appears to show her wearing a yellow shirt, a baseball cap and a backpack while looking at items, including the bird.
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her → have → bird
Clarkson can be seen talking with an employee, pointing to Molly and later moving to leave the store.
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Clarkson → see → store
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
