Art of Play has put a $15 million price tag on the mechanical bird at the center of Kelly Clarkson’s public dispute with the Brooklyn store.
After the singer accused an employee of treating her as though she couldn’t afford an expensive purchase, the business offered a different account. Molly, its singing and dancing mascot, was a permanent fixture, while a similar bird could be purchased from its creator.
The controversy has attracted widespread attention, with The Hollywood Reporter even publishing a satirical response from Molly’s perspective.
Now, co-owner Adam Rubin says the store would part with Molly—for an extraordinary sum.
Molly Gets a $15 Million Price Tag
According to USA Today, Rubin announced the price on October 13.
He also outlined how he would spend the proceeds: $15,000 for each shop employee, $1 million for creator Bliss Kolb, and additional antique automatons for the business.
Molly the mechanical bird from Art of Play – extratv, YouTube
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Those acquisitions would occupy their own display, topped with a sign reading “Not for sale.”
The proposal adds another absurd development to an already unusual controversy. A disagreement over purchasing a mechanical bird has produced an asking price that makes the original $15,000 figure seem modest.
However, that earlier amount requires some context.
Why the Original Price Was Disputed
As That Park Place previously reported, Clarkson criticized Art of Play after visiting on October 10.
She compared her treatment to Julia Roberts’ character being dismissed by boutique employees in Pretty Woman. Clarkson insisted an employee had quoted her $15,000 for Molly, accusing the business of lying when it said the bird wasn’t available.
Store security footage released by journalist Pablo Torre shows her nearly five-minute visit, including what appears to be a tense exchange before she leaves.
Kelly Clarkson – The Kelly Clarkson Show, YouTube
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“Nothing happened in this shop to justify her scolding our shopkeeper on the way out, but I could let that go. Everybody has a bad day,” Rubin said.
Rubin acknowledged the displayed $15,000 price tag but explained that it referred to obtaining a custom bird from Kolb. The store would coordinate with the artist for interested customers. Employees also offered Clarkson another artist’s mechanical bird, costing approximately $2,000.
“They take years to make,” he said. “This is not something that’s sitting in a warehouse.”
The price tag offers a possible explanation for the misunderstanding, although the two accounts differ over what employees told Clarkson.
Publicity Brings Support and Backlash
Beyond the extravagant asking price, Rubin described a more troubling consequence of the controversy.
He told USA Today that the store had received threatening messages and that neighboring businesses had been doxxed. His account raises concerns about the backlash, although it does not establish that Clarkson intended those outcomes.
Kelly Clarkson – Late Night with Seth Meyers, YouTube
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Meanwhile, Rubin reported increased sales and foot traffic, with supporters leaving gifts for employees. The publicity has brought both hostility and customers through the store’s doors.
Customers are entitled to question poor service, and a visible price tag can reasonably prompt an inquiry about a purchase. Nevertheless, a disputed interaction does not justify strangers threatening employees. The backlash also illustrates how a celebrity’s public complaint can carry consequences far beyond the original encounter.
Art of Play’s extraordinary asking price brings some humor to a dispute that has attracted far more attention than the shopping trip warranted. Whether anyone offers $15 million remains to be seen, but Molly has certainly become the store’s most famous attraction.
Do you think that $15 million is a reasonable price for Molly? Sound off and let us know!
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