Brooklyn Store Raises Singing Bird's Price to $15 Million After Kelly Clarkson Drama

A Brooklyn specialty toy store turned a viral celebrity feud into the most talked-about price tag of the year. Art of Play has raised the price of its animatronic singing bird, Molly, from $15,000 to a staggering $15 million after Kelly Clarkson publicly complained about how she was treated during a visit. Clarkson said the staff made her feel like Julia Roberts’character in Pretty Woman, while the store countered that she was only inside for about five minutes and was offered a $2,000 German singing bird instead.

The back-and-forth escalated fast. Clarkson fired back online, calling the store“rude”and“a liar,”and the internet picked a side almost immediately. Then owner Adam Rubin did something nobody predicted: he didn’t apologize, he didn’t discount, he raised the price. His reasoning? So many people have inquired about buying the handcrafted bird, which takes years to make, that demand simply justifies the number. Whether that’s true business logic or brilliant viral marketing is up for debate.

So the bird that once cost about as much as a used car now costs more than a mansion, and a five-minute shopping trip became a full-blown cultural moment. The store gets attention, Clarkson gets sympathy, and Molly the bird gets to be famous. Would you ever pay that much for something you really wanted, or is there a limit? Let us know what you think in the comments.