Kelly Clarkson 'has put us in danger,' Brooklyn store owner claims as bird's price tag soars to $15M
Kelly Clarkson 's public clash with a Brooklyn shop has left its owner concerned about more than a lost sale.
Adam Rubin, co-owner of Art of Play , and children’s author, spoke with Fox News Digital inside the Brooklyn store Tuesday morning, claiming the singer has put his business in danger following their viral dispute over a $15,000 mechanical singing bird.
Meanwhile, the bird at the center of the controversy now has a staggering $15 million price tag.
KELLY CLARKSON SLAMS BROOKLYN STORE OVER ‘PRETTY WOMAN’ TREATMENT "But I am afraid for the safety of our shop.
Kelly Clarkson has put us in danger," Rubin told Fox News Digital.
Rubin claimed the backlash has extended beyond angry comments online, with people associated with the business allegedly facing threats and having their personal information exposed.
"We've got incredible support from our neighbors and fans over the past few days and all of them have been attacked, threatened, doxed," he said.
LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Rubin also accused Clarkson of an "abuse of power," arguing that the singer's enormous platform has intensified the backlash against his small business.
Rubin argued that Clarkson's celebrity status carries a responsibility, saying, "you can't just try to squash somebody like a bug and expect everybody to give you a pass." Rubin also questioned why strangers would go to such lengths to attack a small business on behalf of a celebrity, expressing frustration that people who had never visited his store were joining the backlash.
The mechanical bird that sparked the dispute has also undergone a dramatic price change.
A photograph taken Tuesday by Fox News Digital shows a new sign beside Molly identifying the bird as a creation of artist Bliss Kolb, with an eye-popping price of $15 million.
The sign describes Molly as "The world's most famous singing bird automata!" and lists its price as "$15,000,000." The new figure is 1,000 times the original $15,000 price at the center of Clarkson's complaint.
Art of Play previously explained in a public statement that the original $15,000 figure referred to a nearly identical automaton available from artist Bliss Kolb, while Molly herself is permanently attached to the wall and serves as a fixture in the store's magic performances.
PUT YOUR ENTERTAINMENT KNOWLEDGE TO THE TEST AND SEE HOW YOU SCORE Rubin also addressed the dramatic price change during his conversation with Fox News Digital, pointing to the attention Molly has received since Clarkson's visit.
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