Pablo Torre has turned Kelly Clarkson's viral mechanical bird controversy into a charity auction, buying the $2,000 (£1,500) automaton that a Brooklyn shop said it offered the singer as an alternative and putting it up for auction to benefit the Kyra Fund.
The journalist announced the fundraiser during his Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast on Wednesday, 14 October. The proceeds are intended to support research into glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. The move comes amid a public dispute between Clarkson and Brooklyn novelty shop Art of Play over a mechanical singing bird named Molly.
Kelly Clarkson wasn't interested in that Brooklyn store's "comparable" $2,000 mechanical bird.So we bought it.And now we're auctioning it off — for a good cause.Help The Kyra Fund find a cure for glioblastoma: https://t.co/TuVNVO96cY https://t.co/MmL7mKPVX5
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) October 14, 2026
Pablo Torre Buys Kelly Clarkson's 'Backup Bird'
'Kelly Clarkson wasn't interested in that Brooklyn store's "comparable" $2,000 mechanical bird. So we bought it. And now we're auctioning it off — for a good cause,' Torre announced on X. The journalist's move has given the unusual item a charitable purpose beyond its connection to the celebrity controversy.
The auction item is a separate set of mechanical singing birds, rather than Molly herself, the more expensive bird at the centre of the dispute. The auction is intended to raise money for the Kyra Fund, with bidders invited to make offers for the unusual collectable.
Torre's programme has also jokingly referred to the two birds as 'Julia and Robert', a nod to Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, whose 1990 film Pretty Woman became part of the controversy after Clarkson compared her shopping experience to a scene in the movie. The reference adds another layer to the unlikely story, which has drawn attention to the shop's account of the encounter and Clarkson's objections.
Why Pablo Torre Is Auctioning the Bird
The fundraiser has a personal connection to Torre's programme, as the Kyra Fund was established in memory of Kyra Samson, the daughter of David Samson, a contributor to the journalist's podcast. She died aged 28 in June 2026 after battling glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The fund supports research into the disease, giving the auction a purpose beyond the online arguments surrounding the singer's visit. By directing the fundraiser towards the cause, Torre has turned an unusual celebrity news story into an opportunity to support cancer research.
How Kelly Clarkson's Mechanical Bird Dispute Began
The controversy began on 10 October, when Clarkson criticised Art of Play after visiting its Brooklyn store. She alleged that an employee treated her as though she could not afford a $15,000 (around £11,300) mechanical bird named Molly, comparing the experience to the treatment Julia Roberts' character receives in Pretty Woman.
Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me. Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a…
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 10, 2026
The shop disputed her account, saying Molly was a display piece not for sale, though her creator could make a comparable version for $15,000. Art of Play also said staff offered Clarkson a different mechanical bird priced at around $2,000, but claimed she left before seeing it.
Clarkson later challenged the store's explanation, shared an image of Molly's price tag, and accused the business of misrepresenting what happened. The disagreement escalated online, with co-owner Adam Rubin saying the resulting attention had brought negative reviews and hostile messages.
Kelly Clarkson Faces Backlash Over Store Dispute
Clarkson has faced mounting criticism online over her public dispute with Art of Play, with some questioning why she took the disagreement to social media. One Reddit commenter argued that the singer's reaction towards a second employee was particularly telling, writing that it was more concerning than the original interaction because she had not dealt with that staff member directly.
Others accused Clarkson of allowing her celebrity status to amplify a dispute with a small business. 'She tweeted to mobilise her fanbase to make things worse for the people who work at the store,' one commenter wrote, arguing that the backlash against the employees was unnecessary.
Cool, cool. Sure, it wasn’t for sale. That’s the narrative Art of Play is gonna go with 👍 so the whole conversation we had when I asked you if it was for sale whilst pointing to the price tag hanging on the wall with the title Singing Bird didn’t happen as you elevator eyed me… pic.twitter.com/9PEhUWnIOt
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) October 11, 2026
Security Footage Adds to the Backlash
The dispute took another turn when Torre released security footage of Clarkson's 13 October visit. The video shows the singer browsing the store, approaching Molly and interacting with employees before leaving after less than five minutes.
However, the footage has no audio, meaning it cannot establish precisely what was said during the interaction. While it offers a visual record of the visit, the competing accounts of the conversation remain disputed.
Torre's auction has since given the controversy a charitable dimension, with the mechanical birds now at the centre of a fundraiser for glioblastoma research. The initiative lets bidders acquire an unusual collectable while supporting the Kyra Fund.
