The Brooklyn store Art of Play has issued a new statement to address a "misunderstanding" with singer Kelly Clarkson, after Clarkson publicly accused the store of being "rude" and a "liar." The store seeks to clarify the events that transpired during Clarkson's brief visit.
In an Instagram post, Art of Play stated that during Clarkson's five-minute visit, she inquired about purchasing "Molly," a mechanical bird automaton permanently attached to the store's wall and serving as a mascot. The store explained that while Molly was not for sale, a nearly identical automaton is owned by the creator, Bliss Kolb, who resides in Seattle. They claimed Kolb would be willing to part with his automaton for $15,000.
Art of Play further stated they offered Clarkson a different, similar automaton for $2,000, which was available for purchase that day. According to the store, Clarkson "did not stick around long enough to see" this alternative item. The company has since reached out to Clarkson directly in an effort to resolve the situation.
Clarkson initially criticized the store on X (formerly Twitter), comparing her experience to a scene from the movie "Pretty Woman." She alleged that an employee was "condescending" and implied she could not afford the item. She claimed that when she pointed to a price tag, an associate "elevator-eyed" her and stated the item cost $15,000, which she felt was untrue as the item was not for sale.
The store's initial statement on Sunday had addressed the "widespread outrage" from Clarkson's fans, asserting that the singer had wanted to purchase an item that was not for sale. They mentioned that "Molly" is integral to the magic shows hosted at the store and is permanently affixed to the wall. The store expressed a desire to "clear things up with Kelly someday."