Brooklyn shop owner reports death threats from Kelly Clarkson fans

(The Hill) — Employees at the Brooklyn shop that singer Kelly Clarkson slammed on social media following a “rude” interaction are allegedly receiving death threats, the store’s co-owner, Adam Rubin, said Wednesday.

“We are legitimately worried about the safety of our shop keepers,” Rubin told TMZ. “Because Kelly Clarkson has put us all in danger and has used her platform to try and squash this like a bug.”

He added the store has received angry phone calls and a “barrage of hateful messages from Kelly Clarkson fans” after the singer aired her frustration at the store, “Art of Play,” on social platform X over the weekend.

Clarkson said she went to the store to inquire about buying its one-of-a-kind $15,000 mechanical bird called “Molly” but “literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told [by a staff member] he could find something comparable for me.”

“Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale. But y’all should go check out Art of Play in Brooklyn if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman. For sure, check it out,” her initial post continued.

The store was quick to defend itself on Instagram, confirming Clarkson came into the store but instead told her, “Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale.”

In another post, the store said an employee offered to sell the singer “Molly’s twin for $15,000” and also suggested an alternative, a $2,000 mechanical bird, but Clarkson “did not stick around long enough to see it.”

The situation drew national attention as Clarkson followed up her original allegation with a lengthy post, adding, “Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with.”

“So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen as you elevator eyed me saying in a condescending tone ‘yes, it’s for sale but it costs 15,000 dollars’ … That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar. Got it,” she said.

Her statement appeared alongside a photo that appeared to show a $15,000 price tag next to a mechanical bird.

The “Singing Bird on Wall” is a bird sculpture with a mechanism attached to it that emits a song when cranked, according to its creator, Bliss Kolb. In response to the controversy, Art of Play announced Wednesday that “Molly” would be up for sale for $15 million, NBC News reported.