Martha Stewart addresses backlash after dressing as homeless person for Halloween
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
Newly added coverage highlights divided online reactions after Martha Stewart explained her Halloween costume, saying she intended to raise awareness of homelessness. Critics called the portrayal tasteless and questioned her explanation, while others defended it as a joke.
Stewart, 85, had shared a photo in ripped jeans and a distressed shirt holding a sign reading “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME!!” in an Instagram carousel promoting her QVC candles; she later removed the post. In a statement, she said she was distressed that the costume had offended people, described homelessness as a serious US crisis, and said she had supported charities addressing it and would continue to help.
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In short
- Stewart said her costume was intended to raise awareness of homelessness.
- Critics called it tasteless; some defended it as a Halloween joke.
- The photo appeared in a QVC candle promotion before being deleted.
How this story developed
- 37 minutes ago Martha Stewart has responded to criticism of a Halloween costume depicting a homeless person, saying she hoped to draw attention to homelessness. The backlash followed her sharing a photograph of the outfit in an Instagram post promoting her QVC candles, which was later deleted.
- 1 hour ago Newly added coverage highlights divided online reactions after Martha Stewart explained her Halloween costume, saying she intended to raise awareness of homelessness. Critics called the portrayal tasteless and questioned her explanation, while others defended it as a joke.
Full account
Martha Stewart has responded to criticism of a Halloween costume that appeared to portray a homeless person. The 85-year-old television personality and businesswoman said she meant to draw attention to homelessness, but was distressed that the outfit had caused offence.
A photograph showed Stewart in ripped, dirtied clothing holding a sign reading “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME!!”. It appeared in an Instagram carousel promoting her QVC candles, with a caption about the candles being suitable for Halloween. The post was later deleted, and screenshots circulated online.
In a statement, Stewart said she had spent decades sharing Halloween recipes, craft ideas and entertaining advice. She described homelessness as a serious and ongoing crisis in the United States, said she cared deeply about the issue and had supported charities working to address it, and pledged to continue helping. She did not, in the statement reported by either outlet, describe any specific awareness effort tied to the costume.
Reaction was divided. Some commenters called the costume insensitive or said it risked making light of homelessness; others defended it as a Halloween joke and argued the criticism was excessive. The reports describe the criticism as spreading online after the image appeared, although they give different examples of reactions.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
Fox News says Stewart gave her statement to Page Six; The Hollywood Reporter says it was given to People. Both attribute details about the photograph and its inclusion in the QVC candle promotion to TMZ, while Fox News also describes the outfit as including a distressed button-down shirt.
Fox News includes a wider range of online responses, including several people defending Stewart, and says her representative did not immediately respond to its request for comment. The Hollywood Reporter focuses on two critical reactions and says it had also contacted her representative; it does not report a response to that request.
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The case for
Stewart’s stated aim was to draw attention to homelessness, which she described as a serious crisis, and she says she has supported charities working on it. Supporters may see the costume as a Halloween joke rather than an expression of contempt, and argue that her apology and continued charitable commitment matter when judging her intent.
The case against
Homelessness involves real hardship and loss of dignity, so turning a homeless person’s appearance into a costume can seem to make light of people’s circumstances. The fact that the image promoted a commercial product may heighten that concern, regardless of Stewart’s stated intent or charitable work.
Explained simply
Martha Stewart is a US television personality and businesswoman known for books and programmes about cooking, homes and entertaining. She also sells products, including candles, through retailers such as QVC.
Homelessness means lacking a stable place to live, and it affects people in communities across the United States. Charities and public services work to support people without homes, while debate continues over how best to address the problem.
Halloween costumes often draw on characters or situations for humour, but depicting real hardship can prompt disagreement about whether a joke is respectful. Reactions can differ depending on how people understand the costume and its intended message.