Adam Rubin, co-owner of Brooklyn curiosity shop Art of Play, has made one point clear amid his public dispute with Kelly Clarkson: he says he would welcome the singer back to the store. His invitation, however, comes alongside sharp criticism of how the disagreement became a viral story.
The dispute began after Clarkson said she felt dismissed while asking about a mechanical singing bird called Molly. The store has disputed her account of the interaction and says the bird on display was not for sale. Clarkson has pushed back, saying a $15,000 price tag was visible and that a staff member offered to find a comparable item in a way she found condescending. The central conversation was not recorded with audio, so the public footage cannot settle what was said or how it sounded.
Here is what Rubin has publicly said, what his invitation means, and what remains unresolved.
Rubin’s direct invitation to Clarkson
In an interview with Extra, Rubin said he would invite Clarkson to return, see a show and shop. He added that if she liked an item and the store had something comparable, staff might show her a similar option.
“I would invite Kelly Clarkson to come to the shop, see a show, get whatever she wants,” Rubin told Extra.
That is a public invitation rather than evidence that the two have privately reconciled. The available reporting does not establish that Clarkson has accepted it, met with Rubin, or agreed with the store’s version of events.
Why Rubin says the dispute escalated
Rubin described the episode as an “insane misunderstanding” and said the store faced hostile online reactions after Clarkson shared her experience. In separate remarks reported by Us Weekly, he said the shop held no ill will toward Clarkson but objected to what he viewed as the impact of her public criticism.
His concern is that a celebrity’s audience can direct enormous attention toward a small business in a short time. News reports have described negative reviews and hostile messages directed at the store after the dispute went viral. Those reports do not make every online reaction attributable to Clarkson personally, and Clarkson has not asked her audience to harass the business in the statements cited here.
That distinction matters: a public figure can describe a disappointing customer experience, while the public response can still become disproportionate or harmful when people pile on without firsthand knowledge.
The $15,000 bird remains at the center of the disagreement
Clarkson said she asked whether Molly was for sale after noticing a price tag and recalled being told the bird cost $15,000, followed by an offer to find something comparable. Art of Play said Molly was a one-of-a-kind automaton used in the shop’s magic shows and was not for sale. The store also said the artist could potentially make a similar bird and that staff mentioned another singing-bird automaton available for roughly $2,000.
Those accounts differ on a crucial detail: whether the conversation was about buying Molly herself or being offered alternatives to a display piece. The released surveillance footage shows the visit lasted only a few minutes, but it has no audio. It can show movements and timing; it cannot confirm the exact words, tone, or intentions of anyone involved.
Rubin later said the price had been raised to $15 million amid the publicity. That figure is a stated asking price, not evidence that the bird sold for that amount or that an independent appraisal established its value.
What Rubin’s message does—and does not—resolve
The invitation suggests Rubin wants to leave open the possibility of a future visit. It does not amount to an admission that the employee acted rudely, and it does not disprove Clarkson’s recollection. Neither side’s public statements independently establish every detail of the brief exchange.
A fair reading separates three things: the experience Clarkson says she had, the explanation the store has offered, and the online backlash that followed. All three can be discussed without treating a silent video as proof of a conversation it cannot capture.
Could Kelly Clarkson return to Art of Play?
Rubin has said she is welcome to return, but no public confirmation cited in the reporting says she plans to do so. Whether the invitation leads to a conversation is unknown. For now, it is best understood as the store owner’s stated position rather than a confirmed reconciliation.
Frequently asked questions
What message did Adam Rubin send to Kelly Clarkson?
In a public interview with Extra, Rubin said he would welcome Clarkson to Art of Play to see a show and shop. He said staff might show her a comparable item if she expressed interest in something similar.
Did Adam Rubin apologize to Kelly Clarkson?
The cited remarks include an invitation to return and Rubin’s description of the incident as a misunderstanding. They do not establish that he issued a direct apology for the treatment Clarkson described.
Was Molly the mechanical bird actually for sale?
Clarkson says she saw a $15,000 price tag and was told the bird was for sale. Art of Play says Molly was a display piece and not for sale, while a similar automaton could potentially be obtained from its creator. The public evidence does not conclusively resolve the disagreement.
Does surveillance footage prove what was said?
No. The released footage has no audio. It documents a brief visit but cannot verify the conversation’s exact words or tone.
Related coverage
- What the silent CCTV footage shows about Kelly Clarkson’s Brooklyn visit
- Why Art of Play’s owner described the backlash as a “Molotov cocktail”
Reporting note: This article distinguishes each side’s public claims from independently observable facts. It will be updated if either party provides new, verifiable information.
By Shivam Das
