Kelly Clarkson Accused of ‘Abuse of Power’ in Brooklyn Store Controversy — Report

Shruti SaraogiWed, October 14, 2026 at 9:09 AM UTC

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Photo Credit: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

The co-owner of the Brooklyn store at the center of Kelly Clarkson‘s mechanical bird controversy has reportedly spoken out. In a new interview, Adam Rubin criticized the singer’s social media rant, calling it a “reprehensible abuse of power.”

It was reported that his staffers have since received hundreds of threatening messages. However, Rubin also reportedly said that Clarkson is welcome back anytime.

Brooklyn store’s co-owner criticizes Kelly Clarkson’s social media rant in new interview

Brooklyn store co-owner said Kelly Clarkson ‘lit the fuse’ with social media rant, per interview. Adam Rubin, co-owner of Art of Play in Brooklyn Heights, exclusively told Page Six that the store was hit by a wave of online hate after Clarkson’s complaints. “When this thing first started, everybody wanted us to die,” he claimed. He also described the situation as “surreal.”

Furthermore, Rubin allegedly said that the store has been flooded with “thousands of hateful phone calls” and text messages. He claimed that fans tracked him and his employees down on social media and doxxed their neighbors. Some fans were reportedly demanding that the store apologize to the singer. Rubin seemingly finds that unfair, calling it a “perverse distortion of reality.”

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However, Rubin seemingly places the blame on Clarkson. “She lit the fuse,” he said. He allegedly argued that when someone so famous tries to “squash someone like a bug,” people shouldn’t just blame the trolls. According to him, Clarkson likely knew what would follow. “We didn’t know this was gonna happen, but Kelly Clarkson did,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Rubin said that the singer got no special treatment. “She was treated like everybody else who comes in,” he claimed, adding that nobody at the store recognized her. As for the bird, he reportedly explained that it is attached permanently to the wall, like a showroom model. Another one would have to be specially ordered, which can take years. He reportedly insisted that Clarkson “was not told to leave.”

Rubin reportedly admitted that he has “sympathy” for Clarkson, but he said it’s hard to forgive her actions. He also allegedly found some amusement in the memes about the feud. “The memes have been glorious,” he said.

The post Kelly Clarkson Accused of ‘Abuse of Power’ in Brooklyn Store Controversy — Report appeared first on Reality Tea.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”