Brooklyn Store Owner Slams Kelly Clarkson for 'Abuse of Power' Amid Online Harassment

Adam Rubin, co-owner of the Brooklyn store Art of Play, has accused singer Kelly Clarkson of a "reprehensible abuse of power" after her public statements about an alleged incident at his shop led to widespread online harassment. Rubin stated that Clarkson "lit the fuse" with her social media posts, which he claims resulted in hundreds of threatening messages directed at his business and its staff.

"It’s a pop star, a mechanical bird, it’s surreal," Rubin told Page Six. "When this thing first started, everybody wanted us to die." He added that as the truth has emerged, people realize the situation is an "abuse of power" and called for a re-evaluation of the influence celebrities hold.

Rubin asserted that Clarkson used her significant platform to target a small business, stating, "This is not how you can behave as a citizen in the world, like, if you are this famous and powerful and you try to squash someone like a bug, then we’re supposed to blame the trolls for all the damage that’s inflicted. She lit the fuse."

The children's book author described the aftermath as "totally surreal," with thousands of hateful phone calls and text messages. He noted that Clarkson's fans demanded an apology from his store, which he views as a "perverse distortion of reality."

According to Rubin, Clarkson's fans have found ways to track down him and his employees on social media, harassing their friends and doxxing their neighbors. He maintained that his store treats every customer equally, regardless of their background or celebrity status. "Regardless of what happened in the shop, a misunderstanding in a crowded shop – everybody that comes into the store is treated the same, like a normal person. That’s what pissed her off," he said.

Rubin explained that Clarkson was treated like any other customer, and none of his staff recognized her. He criticized the demand for an apology, likening Clarkson's actions to throwing "a Molotov cocktail into our store, and while it’s on fire, they’re saying we owe her an apology? This is asymmetrical social warfare."

He believes Clarkson was aware of the potential impact of her words. "We didn’t know this was gonna happen, but Kelly Clarkson did, and she needs to be held accountable for her actions," Rubin stated. He questioned the public's perception of celebrities, suggesting that a "down to earth, sweetheart" image can be misleading.

Despite the conflict, Rubin found some amusement in the memes generated by the feud, calling them "glorious." He expressed sympathy for Clarkson but found her actions difficult to forgive, believing she knew the consequences of her public statements.

Regarding the disputed item, Rubin clarified that the mechanical bird Clarkson was interested in was a display model and not for sale. He explained that acquiring such items involves special orders and long waiting times. He stated that Clarkson did not attempt to purchase the bird outright and was not told to leave the store. Instead, it was explained that the bird on display was permanent and ordering a new one was a complex process.

Rubin extended an invitation for Clarkson to return to the store, stating, "This is not about Kelly Clarkson. This is about the power that we acquiesce to celebrity, and how okay we are with it as a society when they abuse it."

The dispute began when Clarkson publicly accused Art of Play on X (formerly Twitter) of mistreating her, alleging that an employee assumed she could not afford a $15,000 mechanical bird and condescendingly offered cheaper alternatives. Clarkson characterized the employee as an "idiot" who caused the loss of a significant sale.

Art of Play responded by stating the bird was not for sale and that they offered to show her a different automaton priced at $2,000, an offer she declined. Clarkson subsequently accused the store of lying, while the store claimed they attempted to contact her to resolve the misunderstanding.