Paul Rudd Spotted Near Toy Shop at Center of Kelly Clarkson Feud
The actor was seen near Art of Play in Brooklyn, the store Kelly Clarkson publicly accused of rudeness.
Actor Paul Rudd was observed near the New York City toy shop, Art of Play, which recently became the subject of a viral online dispute involving singer Kelly Clarkson. Rudd, 57, was seen walking by the Brooklyn boutique on Wednesday, approximately two weeks after Clarkson publicly criticized the store.
Clarkson had claimed that a salesperson at Art of Play judged her for inquiring about a $15,000 mechanical singing bird, suggesting she could not afford it. The "Ant-Man" star appeared to be on a solo outing, dressed casually in a black hoodie, plain t-shirt, light gray slacks, and sneakers. He was also wearing glasses with clear green frames. Rudd paused to look into the shop from the outside but did not appear to enter, continuing his walk down the street.
The incident involving Clarkson and Art of Play began on October 10 when she posted on X, formerly Twitter, about her experience. She stated she had driven to Brooklyn with the intention of making purchases but left empty-handed after the encounter. Clarkson likened the experience to the character Julia Roberts played in "Pretty Woman," implying she was treated with disdain.
Art of Play responded to Clarkson's accusations, asserting that the bird in question, named Molly, was permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. Clarkson countered by sharing a photograph of the bird with a $15,000 price tag, calling the store both rude and dishonest. The shop later issued another statement, claiming they had offered to source a similar automaton for Clarkson from the original artist in Seattle. Subsequently, Art of Play posted that they had increased the price of the bird to $15 million.
The online exchange has since garnered significant attention, with various fans and celebrities weighing in on the matter. Clarkson has since moved past the feud, performing in Las Vegas last week.