Martha Stewart issued two statements in one day about criticism of her Halloween costume. The 85-year-old lifestyle entrepreneur posted, and later deleted, an Instagram photo of herself dressed as a homeless person, and her first statement about it drew a second round of criticism.
By Sunday she had posted a fuller apology that opened with "It's hard to admit when you've really screwed up." This article covers the Martha Stewart homeless Halloween costume story, what she posted, what she said, and how people reacted.
What happened with Martha Stewart's Halloween costume?
On Saturday, October 31, 2026, Martha Stewart shared an Instagram post showing herself dressed as a homeless person for Halloween. According to RTÉ, the photo showed her in torn jeans with makeup made to look like dirt, holding a sign that read "I am hungry help me." Yahoo rendered the sign as "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!"
The image was part of a post promoting her line of candles sold on QVC. RTÉ reported the caption read "My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!" The post drew a wave of criticism online, and Stewart later deleted it, as reported by Yahoo and other outlets.
What did Martha Stewart say in her first statement?
Stewart's first response defended the intent behind the costume. In a statement reported by Page Six (according to RTÉ) and PEOPLE (according to Yahoo), she said she had hoped it would bring "more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness" and that she was "distressed" people found it offensive.
She also said homelessness is one of the major challenges facing America, that she has supported charities working on the issue, and that she is "committed to continuing to make a difference." As NewsRadio 1080 KRLD noted, that first statement did not include a direct apology, and it drew a second round of criticism.
Stewart also responded in the comments of a Just Jared Instagram post about the costume. Just Jared reported that she wrote, "My costume was designed to bring the homeless and the hungry to everyone's mind and boy it certainly did!!!"
How did Martha Stewart apologize for the homeless costume?
Hours after the first statement, Stewart posted a fuller apology on Instagram. She wrote, "It's hard to admit when you've really screwed up. My earlier statement didn't go far enough."
In the same post she acknowledged that many people are struggling financially, said the costume was "insensitive and not funny," and closed with "I'm very sorry."
Who criticized Martha Stewart's costume?
Critics on social media called the costume demeaning and out of touch. KRLD reported that critics pointed to Stewart's wealth and to the ongoing homelessness crisis in the United States.
Actor Indya Moore, known for the FX series Pose, was among the critics. Commenting on the same Just Jared post, Moore wrote, "People do not dress up as groups who are in crisis," and also criticized Stewart's initial response.
How many people experience homelessness in the U.S.?
The most recent federal count found 745,652 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2025. That figure comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, which HUD released on May 29, 2026.
HUD said the 2025 number was 3% lower than the 2024 count. HUD's 2024 report had counted more than 770,000 people. The National Alliance to End Homelessness described the 2025 result as the first overall reduction in homelessness since 2016.
Who is Martha Stewart?
Martha Stewart is a lifestyle entrepreneur who rose to prominence with a series of lifestyle books in the 1980s. She launched Martha Stewart Living magazine in 1990 and a television show three years later. Her name also appears on product lines sold through QVC, including the candle collection featured in the deleted post.
KRLD described the costume episode as a rare public misstep for Stewart, whose brand is built on polished, practical advice for the home.
What is the timeline of the Martha Stewart costume story?
The full story played out over two days. Stewart posted the costume photo on Saturday, October 31. On Sunday, November 1, she released a statement explaining her intent without a direct apology, and hours later she posted a second message on Instagram calling the costume "insensitive and not funny" and saying "I'm very sorry." The original post was deleted after the backlash began.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Martha Stewart's Halloween costume?
Martha Stewart dressed as a homeless person for Halloween 2026. Her Instagram photo showed torn jeans, makeup made to look like dirt, and a sign reading "I am hungry help me."
Did Martha Stewart delete the Halloween post?
Yes. Stewart deleted the Instagram post after it drew criticism online.
What did Martha Stewart say in her apology?
In an Instagram post, Stewart wrote, "It's hard to admit when you've really screwed up. My earlier statement didn't go far enough." She called the costume "insensitive and not funny" and said, "I'm very sorry."
Why did Martha Stewart issue two statements?
Her first statement explained that the costume was meant to raise awareness of homelessness but did not include a direct apology. After that statement was also criticized, she posted a second message on Instagram apologizing directly.
What was the Martha Stewart Halloween post promoting?
The post promoted Martha Stewart's candle collection sold on QVC. RTÉ reported the caption read "My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!"
How old is Martha Stewart?
Martha Stewart is 85 years old.
