Art of Play, the Brooklyn curiosity shop caught in a public dispute with Kelly Clarkson, says the backlash has gone beyond negative comments and reviews to threatening messages directed at the business and its staff. The allegations raise a question larger than the disagreement itself: how should audiences respond when a celebrity’s complaint sends thousands of strangers toward a small business?
Quick answer: Multiple news outlets reported on October 13–15, 2026, that Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin said the shop received threatening calls and messages after Clarkson criticized her October 10 visit on social media. The store and Clarkson disagree about the conversation involving a mechanical bird called Molly. Publicly released security footage has no audio, so it cannot establish what either side said.
What Art of Play says happened after Kelly Clarkson’s post
Clarkson wrote on X on October 10 that she felt she had been treated as though she could not afford an item she wanted to buy, comparing the experience to the famous shopping scene in Pretty Woman. Art of Play offered a different account: it said Molly, a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton used in the shop’s magic shows, was not for sale, while a similar bird owned by the artist could be purchased. The store also said it offered to show Clarkson another singing-bird automaton.
Rubin has described threatening calls, abusive direct messages, negative reviews and people turning up at the shop to confront staff. Those claims have been reported by outlets including Business Insider, NBC New York and The Washington Post’s Associated Press report. The reported harassment is the shop owner’s account; it should not be taken to mean that every critical comment or review was threatening.
Why the silent CCTV video cannot settle the dispute
Video shared by journalist and podcaster Pablo Torre appears to show Clarkson browsing, approaching Molly, speaking with a staff member and leaving after a short visit. But the footage has no audio. It cannot verify the precise words used, whether a price was described in a particular way, or whether either person’s tone was dismissive.
That distinction matters. A video can document movement and timing, but viewers should not treat gestures or facial expressions as proof of a conversation they cannot hear. Until more verifiable evidence emerges, the key claims about what was said remain disputed.
How online criticism can turn into a safety issue
Criticism of a business is legitimate, and customers should be able to describe their own experiences. The line is crossed when people threaten workers, publish private information, flood a business with abusive calls, or show up to intimidate staff. Those actions do not clarify the original disagreement; they can make an already tense situation more dangerous for employees and neighboring businesses.
There is also a practical problem with online pile-ons: many people joining them have not visited the shop or independently checked either account. A viral post can prompt people to react before they know the full context, while a wave of one-star reviews can blur the difference between firsthand customer feedback and coordinated retaliation.
For additional context, a separate collectible singing bird is pictured below. It is not Molly and is included only to illustrate the broader category of mechanical bird objects.
What readers should know before choosing sides
- Confirmed: Clarkson publicly criticized her visit, Art of Play disputed her account, and both sides’ statements have drawn extensive coverage.
- Reported by the store: Co-owner Adam Rubin says the business received threatening messages and calls after the posts.
- Not settled by the footage: The silent CCTV clip cannot prove the exact words exchanged or resolve the disagreement about the bird’s price and availability.
- Not a license to harass: Disagreement with either party does not justify threats, doxxing or targeted abuse.
For background, read our related coverage: what the Art of Play CCTV footage can and cannot show, how the dispute has affected small-business support, and Adam Rubin’s response to the controversy.
Art of Play’s statement on Instagram
The shop published a follow-up statement explaining its account of the mechanical bird and saying it had reached out to Clarkson in hopes of clearing up the disagreement. Read the original post below; Instagram may require cookies or a login to display it.
View Art of Play’s Instagram statement
Frequently asked questions
Is Art of Play receiving threats after the Kelly Clarkson dispute?
Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin has told news outlets that the store received threatening calls and messages after the dispute went viral. The reports attribute those claims to the store; they do not independently establish the identity of every caller or sender.
Does the CCTV footage prove what happened between Kelly Clarkson and the employee?
No. The footage has no audio. It shows part of the visit but cannot establish the exact conversation or settle the competing accounts.
Was Molly the mechanical bird for sale?
That is part of the disagreement. Art of Play says Molly is a one-of-a-kind display piece used in its magic shows and is not for sale, while Clarkson posted that she saw a $15,000 price tag and was told a comparable item could be found. The public evidence has not fully resolved that dispute.
Can fans leave negative reviews of Art of Play?
People can share honest, firsthand experiences. Threats, doxxing, fake reviews and coordinated harassment are different and can put workers and local residents at risk.
Where can readers follow reliable updates?
Look for reporting that distinguishes each side’s claims from independently confirmed facts, including coverage from NBC New York, Business Insider and The Associated Press story carried by The Washington Post.
Reporting note: This article reflects reports available on October 15, 2026. Claims about the private conversation remain disputed, and the silent video does not resolve them.
