Why a Brooklyn store says its singing bird now costs $15 million after Kelly Clarkson’s ‘Pretty Woman’ complaint

A dispute between Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn curiosity shop has taken an unexpected turn, with the store’s co-owner claiming that a mechanical singing bird at the centre of their disagreement now costs an astonishing $15 million.

Adam Rubin, one of three owners of Art of Play, made the remark in an interview with New York magazine, as reported by PEOPLE. He attributed the dramatic price increase to the attention generated by the controversy, which began when Clarkson alleged that a store employee treated her dismissively during a shopping visit.

“So many people asked about it that we had put a price on it, but we talked to the creator when he came to fix the machine, and if someone showed serious interest, we would reach out to him about getting them an automaton. As you’ve noticed, we’ve raised the price due to popular demand. It now costs $15 million,” he said.

What sparked the Kelly Clarkson and Art of Play dispute?

The controversy began on October 10, when Clarkson took to X after visiting Art of Play in Brooklyn. The singer said she had travelled to the store intending to purchase several items but felt that an employee assumed she could not afford what she wanted.

Clarkson compared the encounter to Pretty Woman, the 1990 film starring Julia Roberts, in which a boutique salesperson treats Roberts’ character dismissively.

The disagreement centred on Molly, a singing and dancing bird automaton displayed inside the store. Clarkson maintained that she had been told the item cost $15,000 and was offered something comparable instead.

Art of Play initially disputed her account, saying Molly was permanently attached to the wall, played a role in the shop’s magic shows and was not for sale.

Clarkson subsequently pushed back against that explanation, calling the store owner “rude” and a “liar” in a social media response.