Kelly Clarkson is facing a costly escalation in her dispute with a Brooklyn store over a mechanical bird, with the shop now listing the bird for sale at a staggering $15 million. Adam Rubin, co-owner of Art of Play, made the decision to put up the automated bird named “Molly” for sale, amidst the ongoing viral clash with the pop singer. The store’s listing now showcases Molly as the “world’s most famous singing bird automata” designed by Bliss Kolb, priced at $15,000,000.
Rubin also mentioned that in the event of a sale, each employee at the shop would receive $15,000, while Kolb would be paid $1 million. The remaining funds from the sale would be utilized to acquire other antique automata. Despite attempts to confirm the information with Art of Play, CBC News has not received a response.
The saga has captured widespread attention online, marking a significant increase from the $15,000 price tag Clarkson claims she initially encountered during her visit to the store on Oct. 10. Rubin expressed concerns about the shop’s safety, attributing the surge in foot traffic to the recent publicity but also noting a backlash from Clarkson’s fans.
The dispute began when Clarkson alleged on social media that she was treated poorly at the store, prompting a swift response from Art of Play denying the allegations and clarifying the situation regarding the bird automaton. The back-and-forth exchange between Clarkson and the store has since sparked debate on social media, with users sharing varied opinions on the matter.