Entertainmentupdated 57m ago2 min read
Martha Stewart Apologizes After Deleting Instagram Homeless Halloween Costume
“walking back something on social media can feel ‘hollow,’”
“That was followed by a fuller apology.”
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Martha Stewart apologized and called the costume insensitive after online backlash. She deleted the Instagram photo showing her dressed as a homeless person.
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Apology After Backlash
Martha Stewart deleted an Instagram photo of herself in ripped jeans and a dirtied face, holding a sign reading ‘I Am Hungry Help Me!!’ after social media users slammed the Halloween costume as out of touch. Stewart, 85, wrote on Instagram that “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up,” after she deleted the image that also showed her in a torn jumper and a dirtied face.
Stewart then posted a fuller apology in which she said she was “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”. Stewart’s original Instagram photo had captioned “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!,” and the post’s candle promotion became part of the criticism that followed.
What She Said Next
Stewart told media outlets that her costume was intended to bring more awareness to homelessness, and she said she was “distressed” that it offended people. Stewart later wrote on Instagram that “My earlier statement didn’t go far enough,” and she added that “Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny.”
Indya Moore criticized Stewart’s explanation, writing that Stewart’s “excuse is not believable” and calling the apology a “manipulative counterattack.” A commenter also questioned Stewart’s judgment, asking “Why do you think poor people who are dying on the side of the road are a costume?” as the backlash continued online.
Broader Stakes
Newsweek reported that Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, said Stewart “should have known better than to rely on an ugly stereotype,” and he called the costume “pretty gross.” Giffen argued that people in influential positions should foster greater understanding and empathy, and he told Newsweek that “It was pretty gross.”
The Guardian said Stewart’s Instagram post on 31 October promoted her candle range in the caption and two photos in the carousel, tying the controversy to her brand. The Guardian also cited official figures that there are at least 770,000 homeless people across the US, and it noted that hundreds of new bills criminalising sleeping outside or lingering in public spaces had passed since the supreme court ruled in 2024.