Brief
Brooklyn shop puts mechanical bird Molly up for $15 million sale after Kelly Clarkson dispute
Co‑owner Adam Rubin said the automaton is now for sale at a $15 million price tag after the singer’s X post sparked controversy.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Art of Play, a novelty store in Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue neighborhood, announced Tuesday that its mascot automaton bird Molly can be purchased for $15 million, according to co‑owner Adam Rubin.
What happened
On Sunday, the store said Molly – a singing and dancing mechanical bird created by artist Bliss Kolb – was not for sale after singer Kelly Clarkson posted on X that staff treated her as if she could not afford the piece. Clarkson claimed she was told the bird cost $15,000 and was offered a cheaper alternative. The store responded that Molly is permanently affixed to a wall and not available for purchase, though a similar automaton is owned by Kolb and could be sold for $15,000.
What the reports add
Rubin told reporters outside the store that the price tag has now been set at $15 million, a figure far above the $15,000 price mentioned in the earlier exchange. He said the decision was made to “set the record straight” after the incident drew widespread attention, including surveillance video obtained by journalist Pablo Torre and accusations of racial profiling from a creator known as Sober Facts.
What was said
Rubin, speaking to NBC News, called the episode an “insane misunderstanding” and “asymmetrical social warfare,” adding that the controversy has put the shop in danger. He declined to comment further on Wednesday. Clarkson did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
How it came about
The dispute began when Clarkson visited Art of Play on Oct. 10, spent about five minutes inside, and posted on X that staff treated her as if she couldn’t afford the bird. The store’s earlier statements clarified that Molly is a permanent fixture and not for sale, while offering a $2,000 bird that could be taken home the same day. The backlash led to phone‑spam, hate speech and street confrontations, as reported in earlier Felo News coverage.
Key facts
- Art of Play announced Molly is for sale at $15 million. (nbcnews.com)
- Kelly Clarkson claimed staff told her the bird cost $15,000. (nbcnews.com)
- Co‑owner Adam Rubin called the incident an "insane misunderstanding." (nbcnews.com)
Timeline
- 2026-10-10 — Kelly Clarkson visits Art of Play for about five minutes.
- 2026-10-11 — Clarkson posts on X accusing the store of snubbing her.
- 2026-10-13 — Store co‑owner says the dispute sparked threats.
Sources
- [1] nbcnews.com — originally reported as “Brooklyn store in Kelly Clarkson feud says Molly the mechanical bird is now on sale for $15 million”
