Inside Brooklyn novelty shop at centre of 'surreal' row with Kelly Clarkson over mechanical bird

A Brooklyn novelty shop says its staff have been threatened after singer Kelly Clarkson publicly complained about her treatment there over a mechanical bird. In a social media post, Clarkson said she was "looked at as if I couldn't afford" the $15,000 singing and dancing bird, named Molly, and compared the experience to a scene from the film Pretty Woman.

The store, Art of Play, has defended its staff, saying the bird is permanently attached to the wall and not for sale. It claims an employee suggested she could buy an identical bird for $15,000 and also offered her a different singing bird for $2,000.

Clarkson defended her criticism, saying, "I never blast people but you my friend were an exception." The store's owner has said he and his staff have faced threats and harassment, telling CBS News that the singer had endangered them. A man was filmed yelling expletives outside the store and accusing employees of "racially profiling" Clarkson.

Surveillance video released by a news outlet reportedly shows Clarkson's visit, though it has no audio. The bird, now displayed with a $15 million price tag as a joke, remains on the wall.