Martha Stewart has faced backlash over a Halloween costume that appeared to depict a hungry homeless person, after she shared an image of herself in distressed clothing with dirt on her face and a cardboard sign reading: “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!”
The 85-year-old lifestyle personality posted the photograph as part of a carousel promoting her QVC holiday and Halloween candles. She later removed the image, but it was widely circulated on Reddit and X.
Social media users described the post as “disgusting”, “disappointing” and “tone-deaf”. The reaction was intensified by Stewart’s estimated net worth of $400 million.
In a statement, Stewart said the costume had been intended to draw attention to homelessness rather than cause offence.
“I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention,” she said.
Stewart added that homelessness “continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises”, and said it was an issue she cared deeply about.
She said she had spent “a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic” and was “committed to continuing to make a difference”.
Although Stewart expressed distress over the reaction, she did not issue an apology in the statement.
Her financial position has formed part of the criticism. Stewart was briefly described as the first female self-made billionaire in the US after Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1999.
Her wealth later fell following insider trading charges, a five-month prison sentence in 2004 and subsequent market fluctuations affecting the company. Her current fortune is said to come from real estate, books, media projects and brand partnerships.
