Martha Stewart addresses backlash over Halloween costume

Martha Stewart has faced significant backlash after sharing a now-deleted Halloween photograph in which she dressed as a homeless person. In the image, she wore ripped jeans and a torn jumper, with dirt smeared on her face, while holding a clipboard that read "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!" The post, which had a caption promoting her QVC candles, was quickly removed from Instagram, but not before it was widely circulated online, prompting outrage from many users who deemed the costume offensive and out of touch, particularly given her substantial wealth.

Critics highlighted the insensitivity of a multimillionaire portraying someone experiencing homelessness amid an ongoing affordability crisis in the U.S. One user remarked, "The level of out of touch is stellar." Despite some speculation that the image could be AI-generated, Stewart's team removed the post without further comment, and her subsequent Instagram upload had its comments disabled.

In a statement addressing the controversy, Stewart expressed her distress over the reaction, clarifying that her intention was to raise awareness about homelessness, which she described as "one of America's greatest challenges and ongoing crises." She emphasized her commitment to supporting charities that address this social issue and reiterated her dedication to making a positive impact. Stewart, known for her elaborate Halloween costumes, has a long history of celebrating the holiday.