Martha Stewart admits 'really screwed up' with homeless Halloween costume

Martha Stewart has issued a full apology after admitting she "really screwed up" by dressing as a homeless person for Halloween, according to the BBC ^[1]. The 85-year-old entrepreneur deleted an Instagram photo showing her in torn clothes, with dirt smudged on her face, holding a sign that read: "I am hungry help me!!".

Stewart had originally captioned the post: "My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!", intending to bring awareness to the serious subject of homelessness. However, the gesture received swift and sharp backlash on social media. In a statement posted on Sunday, Stewart expressed that she was "distressed" the costume had offended people, noting this was never her intention.

She followed this with a fuller apology, acknowledging that her initial response didn't go far enough. "It's hard to admit when you've really screwed up," Stewart said. "I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry."

Critics were quick to judge the lifestyle icon's decision. PR expert Molly McPherson called it a "sartorial take on a homeless person" that was insulting, demeaning, and confusing. One social media user questioned, "Why in the hell would you even think about wearing that as a costume?" while another asked who she thought would find it funny, suggesting it might amuse only billionaires.

Stewart, who rose to fame in the 1990s with her magazine Martha Stewart Living, has a long history of navigating public scrutiny. She was once a billionaire following the stock market float of her media empire in 1999, though she later served five months in prison related to an insider trading scandal in 2004. Since then, she has rebuilt her brand through reality TV, food products, and collaborations with friends like rapper Snoop Dogg.