BROOKLYN, NY – Following Kelly Clarkson's viral call-out, New York City specialty store Art of Play has been met with both backlash and support – and it's firing back with a significant price increase to the piece at the center of the controversy.
The Brooklyn location of the curiosity shop has been embroiled in a back-and-forth with the singer, who took to social media on Oct. 10 to accuse the store of treating her as if she couldn't afford a $15,000 mechanical singing bird named Molly the shop was apparently selling. She compared her visit that day to the famous scene from "Pretty Woman," in which Julia Roberts' character is turned away from a pricey store.
Adam Rubin, 43, one of the co-owners of Art of Play, said the store has been overwhelmed
since Clarkson blasted the shop.
He said the phone lines and emails have been flooded with threatening messages. Neighbors in the area have been doxxed and harassed, he added.
"This is a very surreal experience," he said, adding: "We are afraid for the safety of shop keepers. Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger."
In her post, Clarkson said she was "literally was looked at as if I couldn't afford" the bird, "and was told he could find something comparable for me." In Art of Play's social media responses, the company said the bird "is permanently attached to the wall and isn't for sale" but that it offered to show her another singing bird made by a different artist, which cost $2,000.
Rubin said no one in the shop recognized Clarkson when she came in. He added that the store was "packed" and that Clarkson was there "for less than five minutes."
Art of Play increases price of Molly the bird to $15M
Rubin said that the store's mascot is not for sale. Rather, the price is how much it would cost for a custom bird to be made by its creator, Seattle artist Bliss Kolb. Originally, the price tag next to Molly read $15,000. That price was reached after the store spoke with Kolb about customers' interest in the yellow wooden bird.
"We have our automaton. So many people asked about it that we put a price on it," he said. "We talked to the creator and if someone showed serious interest, we would reach out to him about getting them an automaton."
"They take years to make," he added. "This is not something that's sitting in a warehouse."
The shop has since increased the price from $15,000 to $15 million. "We've raised the price due to popular demand," Rubin said.
Despite the backlash, Rubin said, the store has received support from the local community and most people who've visited since the controversy began. Sales online have surged as has foot traffic.
On Monday, Oct. 12, when the shop was closed, people left gifts and pastries for the shopkeepers.
"People are coming here almost entirely in support," he said.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Art of Play raises price of controversial bird in Kelly Clarkson feud | Exclusive
