Martha Stewart issued a more direct apology Sunday after a Halloween costume depicting a person experiencing homelessness drew criticism across social media. The lifestyle entrepreneur said her first response to the controversy had not gone far enough and acknowledged that the costume was insensitive.
The dispute began after Stewart posted a Halloween image showing herself in torn clothing with makeup that appeared to simulate dirt on her face. She held a clipboard with the handwritten message, “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!,” while two dogs sat nearby.
The photograph appeared as the third image in an Instagram carousel promoting Stewart’s QVC candle collection. The post carried a caption advertising the candles for Halloween, which added to the criticism because the image of poverty appeared alongside a commercial promotion.
Screenshots circulated after the post was removed, and social media users accused Stewart of mocking people who are homeless or struggling to afford food. Others defended her, arguing that Halloween costumes are often exaggerated and that the reaction had become excessive.
Stewart initially said the costume had been intended to draw attention to homelessness rather than ridicule it. In a statement reported by TheWrap, she said she was distressed that the costume had offended people and described homelessness as a serious national crisis that she cares about.
She also said she had spent significant time and effort supporting charities that work on homelessness and that she remained committed to helping. Her initial statement, however, did not identify a specific homelessness organization connected to the costume or indicate that the QVC post was part of a fundraising effort.
Hours later, Stewart returned with a stronger apology. People reported that she acknowledged her earlier response had been inadequate and wrote that wearing the costume was “insensitive and not funny,” adding that she was very sorry.
The second statement also recognized the broader economic strain facing many people. Stewart wrote that she knew many people were suffering financially, shifting the focus away from her original explanation and toward the effect the costume had on viewers.
The controversy came at a time when homelessness remains widespread in the United States. The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that 745,652 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2025, including 266,320 who were living in unsheltered situations.
That nationwide count was about 3 percent lower than the record level reported for 2024, but it remained among the highest totals since comparable federal data collection began. The annual Point-in-Time count measures homelessness on one night and does not represent everyone who experiences housing instability over the course of a year.
Stewart, 85, has built much of her public career around cooking, home decorating, entertaining and seasonal celebrations. Halloween has regularly appeared in her magazines, television work and social media posts, with elaborate costumes and decorating ideas forming part of her lifestyle brand.
She also celebrated Halloween publicly this year in a separate appearance connected to the Today show. According to Us Weekly, Stewart shared images of an Olympics-inspired costume and described Halloween as a holiday she enjoys when her schedule allows.
The costume controversy stood apart from those more traditional Halloween appearances because it represented a real social condition rather than a fictional character or historical figure. Critics argued that homelessness and hunger should not be treated as costumes, especially when many Americans are facing high housing and food costs.
Some of the harshest reactions focused on the contrast between Stewart’s wealth and the hardship represented in the photograph. Those comments reflected public anger over the image, but estimates of Stewart’s personal net worth vary and were not necessary to establish what happened.
The episode also showed how quickly a deleted social media post can continue circulating once screenshots have been shared. Although Stewart removed the original image, copies appeared on other platforms and in news reports throughout Sunday.
Her first statement attempted to explain the intention behind the photograph. Her second statement went further by accepting that the costume itself was inappropriate, rather than focusing only on whether she meant to offend anyone.
There is no evidence in the available reporting that Stewart intended to mock people experiencing homelessness. At the same time, her later apology made clear that she accepted the criticism that the costume was insensitive regardless of her original purpose.
The dispute may continue online, but Stewart’s latest public position is now unambiguous: she said the costume was not funny, acknowledged that her first response was insufficient and apologized for wearing it.