Kelly Clarkson, 44, publicly criticized the Brooklyn novelty shop Art of Play over a shopping experience she described as reminiscent of Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman. According to Clarkson, an employee looked at her 'as if I couldn’t afford it' and suggested finding something comparable for her.
Key Takeaways
Kelly Clarkson publicly criticized the Brooklyn store Art of Play for allegedly treating her poorly during a shopping trip, comparing the experience to Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman. The store has denied these claims, stating that the item in question was not for sale and offering alternative options. The dispute has escalated online, with both sides receiving significant backlash.
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▼Source Claims Check
2 Differences FoundAll 6 publishers report consistent facts across 2 key claims. 2 points of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Molly's Availability | 1 Difference | Majority reports Molly is not for sale; Fox News and Daily Mail cite Clarkson's claim. | ▼ |
| Clarkson's Reaction | 1 Difference | Majority reports Clarkson's public criticism; Fox News cites Rubin's view on her reaction. | ▼ |
| Alternative Options Offered | Broad Agreement | Art of Play offered to show her a different singing bird automaton made in Germany. | |
| Store's Response | Broad Agreement | Art of Play responded to the allegations, stating that Molly is not for sale and offered alternativ… |
Molly's Availability
▼Majority reports Molly is not for sale; Fox News and Daily Mail cite Clarkson's claim.
Clarkson's Reaction
▼Majority reports Clarkson's public criticism; Fox News cites Rubin's view on her reaction.
Alternative Options Offered
Broad AgreementArt of Play offered to show her a different singing bird automaton made in Germany.
Store's Response
Broad AgreementArt of Play responded to the allegations, stating that Molly is not for sale and offered alternative options.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The store has denied these claims, stating that the mechanical bird automaton named Molly, which was the center of the dispute, is not for sale and serves as a fixture in their magic shows. They offered Clarkson an alternative option to purchase a similar item but she did not stick around long enough to see it.
The feud has escalated online, with both sides receiving significant backlash. Art of Play owner Adam Rubin told Fox News that the store has received threatening messages and harassment since Clarkson's post went viral. He also revealed that he was recovering from skin cancer surgery but had to return to work to deal with the fallout.
The mechanical bird, Molly, now has a new sign beside it describing her as 'The world's most famous singing bird automata!' with an updated price of $15 million due to its sudden notoriety. The store maintains that Molly is not for sale and the original $15,000 figure referred to a nearly identical automaton available from artist Bliss Kolb.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 6 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.