‘Wow, dude. You’re an idiot’: why Kelly Clarkson is fighting over a $15,000 bird on social media

How much is she worth? Celebritynetworth.com estimates the singer, songwriter and TV personality has a net worth of $60m.

Good for Clarkson. And is that relevant? Well, it just means she can afford stuff.

What kind of stuff? A $15,000 mechanical bird called Molly.

Great! So has she got one? No.

Whyever not? In Clarkson’s version of events, she visited a Brooklyn curiosity store, enquired about the bird and was treated like a Julia Roberts character.

Erin Brockovich? Respect! No, Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman.

They thought she was on a “date” with Richard Gere? No! But you’ll remember in the movie Roberts’s character is snubbed in a bijou Beverly Hills boutique. Clarkson says the same happened to her at Art of Play, where when she inquired about Molly, a member of staff looked at her “as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me”.

So she had a makeover and returned triumphantly to the store, just like in the movie? That was 1990, dear – Clarkson reacted the modern way.

Which is? She took to social media. “Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” she posted on X, to her 8.8 million followers.

What did Art of Play do? Took to social media too, of course.

To apologise? Not really. “Imagine our surprise when our small local business was suddenly attacked by eight million people who have never visited our store,” they said on Instagram. They also said that Molly wasn’t even for sale.

Just a little misunderstanding, then, and all cleared up now? Hmm. “Sure, it wasn’t for sale,” said Clarkson. “So the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag … didn’t happen … Okay, cool. So you’re not only rude, you’re also a liar.”

Ouch! She goes on to say she loves and supports small businesses: “I never blast people but you my friend were an exception. Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren’t.”

No olive branch from Clarkson, then. What about the store? The Times reported that Art of Play said a worker told Clarkson that while Molly was not for sale, her “twin” made by an artist in Seattle was, for $15,000. They say they’ve reached out directly to try to clear the air. “We really do wish her the best and hope that someday we can all laugh about this misunderstanding.”

But we’re already laughing. Snobby shop, celebrity strop, a pile-on and a very expensive bird called Molly. True, what’s not to love?

Do say: “There’s a mechanical bird on Temu for £11.27.”

Don’t say: “Shall we discuss the questionable sexual politics of Pretty Woman?”