Martha Stewart Apologizes for Controversial Homeless Halloween Costume

Lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart issued two apologies after facing heavy criticism over a deleted Halloween social media post that portrayed an unhoused person. The 85-year-old television personality shared an image on Instagram showing herself wearing tattered clothing, a beanie, and dirt makeup on her face while holding a clipboard with the handwritten message, "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!"

The controversial photograph was part of an Instagram carousel that also served as a commercial promotion for her line of candles sold on QVC. Following immediate negative reactions across social media platforms like X, Reddit, and Instagram, Stewart quickly removed the post. Critics labeled the costume "out of touch," "offensive," and "gross," condemning the choice to use poverty and hunger as a holiday character, particularly alongside a product advertisement.

Initially, Stewart released a statement to Page Six expressing regret over the public response. "I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention," she stated, adding that she has spent significant time supporting charities that combat the issue.

However, as public outcry continued, Stewart followed up with a second, more direct statement via Instagram on Sunday. Admitting that her initial remarks fell short, she wrote, "It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry."

The online reaction divided followers. While some commenters rushed to her defense, arguing that it was simply a holiday costume without malicious intent, others maintained that the display was tone-deaf given widespread economic struggles and homelessness crises in the United States. Observers also questioned why members of her public relations or digital teams did not flag the idea beforehand.

The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of national data regarding unhoused populations. A report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development documented hundreds of thousands of people experiencing homelessness across the country, underscoring why the imagery struck a sensitive nerve among critics.

Despite the backlash, Stewart remained active on social media, posting content about cooking ingredients such as saffron shortly after addressing the incident. Her team has not provided further comment regarding the backlash surrounding the post.