Martha Stewart has issued a second apology after her Halloween costume sparked widespread criticism online, with many fans accusing the television personality and businesswoman of making light of homelessness.
The 85-year-old celebrity chef found herself at the centre of controversy over the Halloween weekend after sharing a photograph of herself dressed as a homeless person. The costume featured torn clothing, dirt covering her face, and a cardboard-style sign asking strangers for food and assistance.
The sign read, “I am hungry. Please help.”
Although Stewart initially explained that her costume was intended to raise awareness about homelessness, her response did little to calm the growing criticism. The photograph, which was later deleted, continued to generate negative reactions, with followers questioning her decision to turn a serious social issue into a Halloween outfit.
After initially addressing the controversy, Stewart has now returned with another statement, admitting that her first response did not go far enough and acknowledging that her costume was insensitive.
Martha Stewart deletes controversial Halloween photograph after fans react
The controversy began when Stewart shared the photograph of herself wearing the homeless-inspired costume on social media.
In the image, she appeared in a deliberately distressed outfit, with dirt covering parts of her face and a sign asking people for help.
What may have been intended as a provocative Halloween interpretation quickly attracted criticism from followers who felt the costume crossed a line.
Many urged the celebrity to remove the photograph, arguing that homelessness is a serious issue affecting millions of people and should not be treated as entertainment.
Stewart eventually deleted the post and issued an initial statement to Page Six, attempting to explain the thinking behind her costume.
“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 wrote.
The entrepreneur also emphasized that homelessness is an issue she genuinely cares about and has supported through charitable work.
“Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic,” she explained.
She concluded her statement by reaffirming her commitment to helping organizations working to address the problem, saying she remained “committed to continuing to make a difference.”
Fans continue criticizing Martha Stewart despite her first apology
Stewart also discussed her long-standing love of Halloween, describing it as one of her “favorite holidays of the year.”
Over the years, she has regularly shared festive recipes, creative decorations, entertaining ideas, and craft projects to help her audience celebrate the occasion.
She explained that she had spent considerable time helping others enjoy Halloween by “teaching others how to celebrate Halloween — sharing fun, festive recipes, providing unique craft ideas, and giving tips on entertaining and hosting.”
However, her explanation did not stop the criticism.
Even after deleting the controversial photograph, Stewart continued receiving negative comments across her other Instagram posts.
One particularly noticeable example appeared beneath a video in which she demonstrated how to prepare chicken and dumplings.
Instead of focusing on the recipe, several followers used the comment section to revisit the Halloween controversy.
“Now go make this for a soup kitchen full of people you just turned into a Halloween costume,” one user wrote, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Another commenter questioned why she had removed the photograph, asking, “What happened to your costume? Got embarrassed?”
A third follower was even more direct, writing: “The Halloween costume is unforgivable-”
The reactions demonstrated that Stewart’s initial explanation had not managed to convince everyone, with some followers continuing to demand a more direct acknowledgment of the offence caused.
Martha Stewart admits she went too far in second apology
Although Stewart had already addressed the situation through Page Six, she later decided to speak directly to her followers again.
On November 1, she shared a second statement through her Instagram Stories, this time taking greater responsibility for her decision.
According to the BBC, Stewart acknowledged that her earlier response had not gone far enough and admitted that the costume was an insensitive choice.
“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,” she wrote.
She also repeated that she had never intended to offend people and had originally wanted to draw attention to the serious issue of homelessness.
Her second apology marked a noticeably different approach from her first statement. Rather than focusing primarily on her charitable intentions, Stewart directly acknowledged that her costume had been inappropriate and that her attempt at raising awareness had missed the mark.
The response came after criticism continued despite the removal of the original photograph.
Martha Stewart has worn several memorable Halloween costumes over the years
Halloween has long been an important part of Stewart’s public image, and she has never been afraid to experiment with elaborate costumes and unusual transformations.
Throughout her career, the television personality has dressed as several recognizable characters, often embracing the holiday with the same creativity she brings to her cooking, decorating, and lifestyle projects.
In 2024, she appeared dressed in elaborate royal attire inspired by Queen Elizabeth I.
Back in 2011, she transformed herself into a character called “Motha,” while her very first Halloween episode of The Martha Stewart Show in 2005 saw her take on the appearance of Jane of the Jungle.
Those previous transformations were generally part of her playful approach to Halloween entertainment.
However, her latest costume proved considerably more controversial, with many people arguing that portraying someone experiencing homelessness was inappropriate, regardless of the intention behind it.
Fans defend Martha Stewart while others question her decision
Following her second apology, social media reactions remained divided.
Some followers accepted her explanation and expressed support, suggesting that although she had made a mistake, it should not define her entire reputation.
One supporter wrote: “Martha, we still love you. Sometimes the joke comes out a little underbaked. We’ve all had our moments.”
Another person defended her more strongly, arguing that Halloween costumes should not automatically become the subject of wider political or social debates.
“Martha! You’re fine, it’s Halloween and it’s just a costume. Not everything is a political or social statement,” the follower commented.
However, not everyone was ready to move on.
Other users continued questioning how such a costume had been approved, particularly given Stewart’s public profile and the sensitivity of the subject.
One commenter wrote: “I want to know the annual salary of everyone who was OK [with] it.”
Another expressed disappointment with the people surrounding the celebrity, asking: “Love Martha, but how did no one on your PR team tell you that wasn’t a good idea?”
The contrasting reactions showed that while some fans appreciated Stewart’s willingness to apologize, others remained unconvinced by the explanation.
For now, Stewart has acknowledged that her Halloween costume was a mistake and expressed regret for offending people.
What began as another attempt at an elaborate Halloween transformation has turned into a wider conversation about homelessness, public awareness, and the responsibility celebrities have when addressing serious social issues.
What do you think about Martha Stewart’s Halloween costume and her second apology? Was she right to apologize, or did the situation become bigger than it needed to be? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
