Inside Brooklyn novelty shop at centre of 'surreal' row with Kelly Clarkson over mechanical bird
Art of Play says its staff have been threatened after the singer complained online about how she was treated.
A Brooklyn novelty store, Art of Play, is at the center of a social media dispute with singer Kelly Clarkson over a mechanical bird. Clarkson said the Cobble Hill shop refused to sell her the singing and dancing bird, which she claimed was priced at $15,000 (£11,000).
The store says the wooden bird, named Molly, is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. It said an employee offered her an identical bird for $15,000 and a different singing bird from a German clock-maker for $2,000.
What Clarkson said
Clarkson said she was "looked at as if I couldn't afford" the bird. She compared the treatment to the movie Pretty Woman, saying, "Y'all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman."
In a follow-up post, she said the store told her the bird cost $15,000 and that they could find her something else "comparable." She defended her decision to criticize the store, saying, "I never blast people but you my friend were an exception."
I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.
— Kelly Clarkson
Store response and fallout
Art of Play said it was surprised by the reaction. "Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by eight million people who have never visited our store," the store said. It added, "It's been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity."
The owner told CBS News that he and his staff had faced threats and harassment, and that Clarkson had endangered them. This week, a man filmed himself yelling expletives outside the store and accusing employees of "racially profiling" Clarkson. On Wednesday, there were more reporters than customers at the shop, and Molly now hangs next to a $15m price tag.
