Brooklyn Shop Puts Viral Bird at $15 Million as Kelly Clarkson Post Sparks Threats

3 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Oct 13

$15 million now hangs beside Molly at Brooklyn's Art of Play after co-owner Adam Rubin said Kelly Clarkson's viral complaint brought threatening calls, texts and social-media harassment.
260,000-plus likes on Clarkson's X post amplified a dispute over whether staff treated her condescendingly when she asked about the hand-cranked bird, which the shop says is permanently attached and not for sale.
Art of Play said staff instead offered to connect Clarkson with artist Bliss Kolb for an identical bird and showed a $2,000 German-made alternative, but said she left before seeing it.
The backlash spread beyond fan debate: a retail union defended the employee, and Rubin said even neighbors who supported the store were attacked online.
Rubin said he still has not heard from Clarkson's team and would now sell Molly to anyone—including Clarkson—for $15 million.