Stewart calls homeless costume insensitive
The 85-year-old businesswoman issued a second apology after her initial defense of the outfit sparked online criticism.
By Amelia Gupta ·
Martha Stewart admitted on Sunday that her Halloween costume depicting a homeless person was insensitive. The 85-year-old media mogul described the outfit as not funny in a statement posted to her Instagram account.
The controversy began on October 31 when Stewart shared a photo of herself in a tattered sweater and jeans. In the image, she wore smeared makeup and held a sign reading, I am hungry. Help me. The photo was later removed from her social media feed.
Backlash grew rapidly after the post went public. Stewart first addressed the criticism through the New York Post. She explained that the costume was intended to highlight the serious issue of homelessness. At that time, she said she was distressed that the look had offended people, which was never her intention.
Stewart noted that homelessness is a major challenge in the United States. She mentioned spending considerable time supporting charities that work to combat the crisis. However, her initial statement did not fully satisfy critics online.
On Sunday, Stewart took a firmer stance in a second statement. She wrote that it is hard to admit when one has really screwed up. Stewart acknowledged that her earlier response did not go far enough. She stated that many people are suffering economically and apologized for the specific choice of costume.
Her followers responded with mixed reactions to the new message. One commenter argued that more people are angry about the costume than are motivated to help homeless individuals. Another noted that the incident illustrated how disconnected wealthy individuals are from the general population.
The timing of the apology coincides with recent data on housing insecurity. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported in May that 745,000 people were homeless in the United States on a single night in January 2025. The agency also reported a 27% increase in homelessness between 2013 and 2025. Unsheltered homelessness rose 36% during that same period.
Stewart was named one of the 250 greatest self-made Americans by Forbes in August. She built a media empire and launched multiple brands focused on lifestyle and entertaining. ABC News has reached out to a representative for Stewart for further comment.
