Brooklyn Shop Owner: ‘Kelly Clarkson Has Put Us All In Danger’

The drama between singer Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn game shop just got more interesting as the store owner put her on blast, saying the “American Idol” winner’s “gross abuse of power” was “reprehensible” and that she should face “social consequences.”

Art of Play co-owner Adam Rubin complained that he’s had to shut off the phone in his store due to the avalanche of negative reactions he’s gotten from Clarkson’s fans. The internet is divided over who’s at fault, with some saying Clarkson was acting like a total diva for expecting to be able to purchase the one-of-a-kind animatronic bird, Molly, that’s on display at the store.

Rubin told TMZ that he’s “legitimately concerned” about the safety of his employees at the shop and said, “Kelly Clarkson has put us all in danger.”

“Things changed when she used her platform to attack us. It’s just social warfare,” he went on.

Others have pointed out that the store appears to have released contradictory information, sometimes indicating there’s a version of the bird for sale, and other times claiming there isn’t. Pablo Torre, host of the investigative podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” was able to obtain security footage from the time of the incident — but that has also raised as many questions as answers.

The video offers another perspective on the ongoing drama but because it doesn’t include sound, it’s unclear how the interaction last Sunday went down. Clarkson can be seen interacting with an employee, pointing at the bird, and then setting down items and walking out quickly. But a lot of assumptions are being made about the body language of both the singer and the employee — and there’s no clear consensus on any of it.

The drama began a week earlier when the original “American Idol” winner posted about the incident on social media in a tweet that has since racked up almost 46 million views.

“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. For sure, check it out,” she wrote alongside a thumbs-down emoji.

Reps from the store replied with a post of their own on Sunday, insisting the incident wasn’t what it seemed. They began by insisting that the item Clarkson inquired about purchasing was “a one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton who plays an important role in the magic shows we host here.”

“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale. However, the negative experience Kelly described on Twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop,” the caption said in part.

“Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by 8 million people who have never visited our store,” they added. “It’s been a surreal experience to be the focus of such widespread outrage after just one mention by a celebrity.”

Previous Instagram posts confirm the item is not for sale, but eagle-eyed critics pointed out that photos of the item show it does have a $15,000 price tag next to it. Fans of the singer flooded the store’s reviews page with one-star ratings, quickly bringing down the star count.

Clarkson responded with yet another post on Sunday night.

“Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with … so 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.’”

She continued, “That all never happened and now it’s not for sale. Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar.” The singer explained that while she “obviously” supports small businesses, they “don’t get a free pass to treat people less than.”

“It’s not that hard to be kind,” she concluded. “I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”

While Rubin has complained about the threats and bad press, there’s no denying that the store has gotten more a lot of publicity from all the drama. Sales have surged and the store is experiencing significantly more foot traffic, as USA Today reported. Rubin said that Molly the bird is now on sale, but the price tag is  $15 million.

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