Martha Stewart’s Halloween costume has gotten a lot of attention this year even though her photo of it was quickly deleted. She has since apologized for the controversial costume, but fans can’t wrap their heads around how she (or anyone else on her team) thought it was OK in the first place.
Although Martha, 85, deleted the photo of her Halloween costume, it has been shared widely online. In the photo, she appeared to be dressed up as an unhoused person, wearing ripped clothing and holding a sign that read, “I Am Hungry Help Me ! !” Her face was also covered in fake “dirt.” In the same post, she was trying to sell her QVC candle collection, writing, “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!” To those who were critical of the costume, this made the whole thing seem even more out of touch than it already did.
She admitted that she “really screwed up.”
At this point, Martha has shared two statements addressing the controversy. In the second statement shared via Instagram, she said that the first one “didn’t go far enough.”
In her original statement, which was shared with NBC News the day after Halloween, Martha said, “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 added that homelessness “continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic.”
Later, she admitted that the costume was “insensitive” regardless of her intentions.
She took to Instagram to share her second statement. “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up,” she wrote. “My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry.”
Reactions have been mixed. A lot of critics were skeptical of Martha’s claim that she wanted to raise awareness. After all, Martha is wealthy. Surely there are other things she could do to address the issue of homelessness? In the comments, someone wrote, “Why don’t you go and buy housing for 10,000 homeless people and set up funding to assist them long term. Make a real difference. Do you really need all of the wealth you’ve accumulated?”
Another person argued that “the only thing that this brought awareness to was how disconnected wealthy people are from the majority of the population.”
Meanwhile, someone else commented, “You’re worth hundreds of millions and have a global platform. What are you doing to help the problem?”
People also wondered how Martha actually posted the photo of the costume without anyone stopping her.
“So when this costume concept was in the works , no one said ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea’?” a critic questioned. Some people who were critical of the costume felt like Martha was “mocking” unhoused people rather than “raising awareness.” They called on her to do more than just apologize on Instagram.
“Your choice reflects an utter disconnect from the desperation and suffering of so many people, especially those who are unhoused and hungry. An apology is just a word. True apology is action,” someone else wrote.
“Perhaps spend time at a food kitchen or a food bank and learn some things about poverty,” another critic suggested. “Poverty isn’t a joke or costume, it’s a reality for so many people.”
Some people were more forgiving though, and not everyone saw an issue with the costume in the first place. One fan argued that people, including celebrities, should be able to make mistakes and learn from them. “leave her alone she’s literally 85 years old and apologizing,” they commented. “let people take accountability for their mistakes or else what is being human and what is the point of being a community if we don’t let people learn?!”
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