Kelly Clarkson and Brooklyn Toy Store Art of Play Exchange Accusations Over $15,000 Automaton

Singer Kelly Clarkson posted on X that she had driven to Brooklyn to visit Art of Play, a novelty shop in Brooklyn Heights, and that a staff member had treated her as if she could not afford a item she was interested in. She wrote that the employee offered to find a comparable piece and accused the store of losing a sale.

Art of Play responded, saying Clarkson asked about “Molly,” a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton that is permanently attached to a wall and not for sale. The store added that the artist who created the piece has a twin automaton that could be sold for $15,000, and that they offered Clarkson a different German-made singing bird automaton priced at about $2,000, which she did not purchase.

Clarkson later posted a photo of the bird with a $15,000 price tag and claimed the staff had implied the item was for sale while speaking condescendingly. The shop reiterated that the specific automaton on display is not for sale and that the alternative offered was not taken.

Art of Play has shared supportive messages from customers on its Instagram Stories and highlighted a prior post noting that while items have prices, the experience of playing with them is free. Neither side has issued an apology, and the dispute remains unresolved online.