Art of Play, a boutique novelty toy and games store located in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill neighborhood, became the subject of significant social media attention following a dispute with musician Kelly Clarkson over a mechanical bird display.
Clarkson posted online that during a visit to the store, she was treated dismissively when she inquired about purchasing a singing and dancing mechanical bird mounted on the wall. She stated the bird carried a $15,000 price tag and claimed staff members looked at her as though she could not afford it, comparing her experience to a scene from the 1990 film Pretty Woman. The store responded through social media, stating the wooden bird, named Molly, is permanently attached to the wall and not available for purchase. According to Art of Play, an employee had offered to source an identical bird for $15,000 or suggested an alternative singing bird priced at $2,000 from a German clock-making shop that could have been purchased the same day.
The dispute generated substantial online attention, with the store receiving what it described as unexpected criticism and harassment. Store ownership indicated they and their staff faced threats following Clarkson’s complaint. When BBC visited the store, the wooden bird had been fitted with a humorous price tag of $15 million and labeled as the “world’s most famous singing bird automata.” A news outlet released surveillance video from the store purporting to show Clarkson’s brief visit, though the footage contained no audio.
The controversy drew both significant media presence and foot traffic to the small business, with some customers unaware of the dispute when they arrived. Neighborhood residents and regular shoppers expressed positive views of the store’s customer service, describing it as a well-regarded local establishment.
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