Kelly Clarkson Controversy Sends Animatronic Bird’s Price Soaring to $15 Million

An animatronic bird named Molly has become the unlikely centerpiece of a viral feud involving singer Kelly Clarkson, with its owners at Brooklyn’s Art of Play raising its asking price from $15,000 to a staggering $15 million.

The singing and dancing bird, one of only two in existence, was originally conceived as a work of art by artisan Bliss Kolb. According to Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin, the shop had previously received inquiries about Molly, prompting it to set a $15,000 price tag to gauge serious interest.

Everything changed after Clarkson visited the store on Saturday and took to social media to complain about her experience, saying she felt she had been treated like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman. Her post on X subsequently attracted more than 45 million views within three days.

Capitalizing on the sudden attention, Art of Play announced the dramatic price increase. “As you’ve noticed, we’ve raised the price due to popular demand,” Rubin told New York magazine’s Curbed on Tuesday. “It now costs $15 million.”

Rubin described the dispute as an “insane misunderstanding,” insisting that Clarkson had spent less than five minutes in the busy shop. However, he accused the singer of using her platform to target the business, calling the fallout “asymmetrical social warfare.”

The controversy has escalated beyond social media. Rubin claimed that the store received a flood of hostile emails, negative reviews and phone calls, forcing staff to turn off the phone. He also alleged that people confronted employees outside the shop and that the situation became dangerous after online harassment allegedly extended to nearby residents.

Clarkson and Art of Play have exchanged accusations online, with the singer calling the business “rude” and “also a liar.” Meanwhile, the shop has continued sharing supportive posts on Instagram amid the backlash.

Asked about the controversy’s effect on sales, Rubin declined to elaborate, ending his interview with Curbed by saying, “I think we’ve said enough.”

For now, Molly remains a $15 million conversation starter — a striking example of how a viral celebrity dispute can transform an obscure art installation into an internet sensation.