Brooklyn — Toy Store Says It Reached Out to Kelly Clarkson

A Brooklyn toy store at the center of a public dispute with singer Kelly Clarkson says it has reached out to her "multiple" times since a confrontation over a $15,000 mechanical bird, according to a source close to the shop cited by Page Six on Oct. 16.

What sparked the dispute between Kelly Clarkson and the store?

The shop, Art of Play, sells collectible playing cards, puzzles and whimsical home goods and had already drawn wealthy repeat customers before the dispute, a regular shopper told Page Six. Clarkson, the "American Idol" winner and "The Voice" coach, said in an X post last weekend that staffers had treated her the way Julia Roberts' character was treated in "Pretty Woman" during a visit to the store. The claim centered on a mechanical bird at the store named Molly, which carries a $15,000 price tag, according to Page Six. A photo from Oct. 13 shows Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin at the store amid the fallout.

How has Art of Play tried to contact Kelly Clarkson?

"They have not heard from Kelly but have reached out via multiple channels," the source in the Art of Play neighborhood told Page Six. The source did not specify which channels the store used or when the outreach began, and Clarkson's camp has not publicly responded to the attempts, according to the report.

What support has the store received since the dispute went public?

The source said neighboring businesses have sent flowers and dropped off gift bags for Art of Play staff. "They've experienced such an outpouring of support from neighbors and visitors to the store," the source said. "Anyone who stops by can plainly see." A regular customer told Page Six the store has also seen a jump in foot traffic, much of it from people "coming just to take a selfie with Molly," the mechanical bird. The same customer described the store's existing clientele as steady and affluent: "They get the same repeat customers all of the time. It's always busy. Everything is delicate."

How has online reaction differed from the response in person?

The source drew a sharp line between the store's in-person reception and its online one. "They have gotten nothing but love in real life. The hatred continues online, but they stopped looking days ago," the source said. Page Six also reported that security footage from the store's encounter with Clarkson later surfaced publicly, intensifying the online debate, and that television host Sunny Hostin criticized Clarkson's reaction on air, calling it "a bit of a tantrum," according to Page Six's coverage. Clarkson has since returned to performing even as the dispute continues, the outlet reported.

What happens next in the mechanical bird dispute?

As of the Oct. 16 report, there has been no public reply from Clarkson or her representatives to the store's outreach. Art of Play's owners have not issued a public statement beyond the account relayed by the source, and the shop appears to be absorbing both the increased customer interest and the continued online criticism without further comment, according to Page Six.

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