36 publishers · first seen Sun, 01 Nov 2026 16:28 UTC · updated Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:06 UTC
Martha Stewart, the 85-year-old lifestyle guru, apologized for her Halloween costume that depicted her as a homeless person, which she later deleted from her Instagram. She initially intended the costume to raise awareness about homelessness but faced backlash for being insensitive. In a statement, Stewart expressed regret for not going far enough in her initial explanation and acknowledged the economic suffering of many. She has since continued to post lifestyle content on her Instagram, despite ongoing criticism.
The backlash against Stewart's costume highlighted the sensitivity around portraying homelessness in a light-hearted manner, especially given the ongoing economic challenges and rising homelessness rates in the U.S. The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported over 745,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2025, a 27% increase since 2013. Stewart's costume, featuring tattered clothing, dirt on her face, and a sign reading 'I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!', was part of a series promoting her QVC candles for Halloween.
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