Kelly Clarkson’s bitter feud with a small Brooklyn business has taken another turn after newly released surveillance footage captured the singer’s tense encounter with a shopkeeper over a $15,000 mechanical bird.
The 44-year-old former “American Idol” winner sparked an online firestorm after accusing employees at Art of Play of treating her like she couldn’t afford an expensive item.
But security footage obtained by journalist Pablo Torre is now raising fresh questions about the celebrity’s version of events.
The silent video shows Clarkson entering the curiosity shop wearing a yellow T-shirt, baggy jeans, a gray baseball cap and a backpack.
During her brief visit, which lasted approximately four minutes and 50 seconds, Clarkson browsed merchandise before approaching a mechanical singing bird named Molly.
The decorative bird, displayed behind the cashier, had a $15,000 price tag nearby. However, store employees insist the particular bird Clarkson wanted was never available for purchase.
The footage shows Clarkson speaking with a shopkeeper before the two walk in opposite directions. She later appears visibly frustrated, gesturing toward a cashier before leaving.
Because the surveillance video has no audio, it does not establish what was said during the confrontation.
Clarkson had previously blasted the store on social media, comparing her experience to Julia Roberts’ character in the movie “Pretty Woman.”
‘Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told 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.’
Store owner Adam Rubin, 43, isn’t buying the superstar’s accusations.
Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go withso 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 so if you’d like me to find something comparable for you I can.” 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
And by the way, I obviously support small businesses because I was literally at a small business trying to purchase things. I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don’t get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business. It’s not that hard to be kind. I never blast people but you my friend were an exception.
Your store is really cool.
Unfortunately, you aren’t.
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026
Rubin told the Daily Mail that Clarkson’s public complaints unleashed harassment against his independently owned business, forcing him to deal with the fallout while recovering from skin cancer surgery.
‘Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger,’ Rubin said. ‘We have gotten threatening phone calls, threatening text messages.
‘We’ve been review-bombed. We’re getting harassed on social media.
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‘People are showing up and screaming outside of the shop. Our neighbors are getting doxed.’
Rubin accused Clarkson of using her enormous celebrity platform to turn a misunderstanding into a damaging public spectacle.
‘When you have the platform, fame, money, and power that she has, you can’t just try to squash somebody like a bug and expect everybody to give you a pass,’ he said.
The businessman also claimed Clarkson yelled at an employee before storming out.
According to Rubin, she declared, “You know, I’m never coming here again.”
Supporters of the singer have questioned why a $15,000 price tag was displayed beside an item the store refused to sell.
Art of Play maintains that the price referred to an identical ornament and that staff would have helped Clarkson contact its creator about commissioning another.
The dispute has since divided online audiences, with some defending Clarkson’s frustration and others accusing the wealthy celebrity of unfairly targeting a small business.
One local customer criticized the controversy, saying it involved a celebrity using her massive audience against a modest shop operated by magicians.
For Rubin, the controversy has transformed an ordinary customer disagreement into a costly headache.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
