Brooklyn toy shop owner says Kelly Clarkson upset over treatment during dispute over mechanical bird
The co-owner of the Art of Play shop said the singer’s complaint about a $15,000 robotic bird led to online threats and criticism of the store’s policy of treating all customers alike.
The co-owner of Art of Play, a curiosity shop in Brooklyn, said a disagreement between singer Kelly Clarkson and an employee over a $15,000 mechanical bird escalated into a wave of online threats toward the store. Rubin explained that the bird, called “Molly,” is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale, and that the store’s policy is to treat every visitor the same, regardless of fame.
Rubin said Clarkson alleged that an employee suggested she could not afford the bird and that she felt she was not given special treatment. He added that other high-profile customers have visited the shop without receiving different service and did not raise complaints.
According to Rubin, the incident sparked a 72-hour period of intense online activity, including negative reviews and doxxing of individuals associated with the shop. He expressed disappointment with the response from some of Clarkson’s fans, describing the situation as “asymmetrical social warfare.”
Rubin noted that the robotic bird, which can sing and dance, is priced at $15 million and has become widely known after the controversy.