Key Points
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Martha Stewart’s 2026 Halloween costume has stirred up controversy.
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The lifestyle guru posted, and then deleted, an image of herself as a homeless individual, with dirt on her face and a sign that read, “I am hungry. Please help!!”
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Stewart issued a statement saying she was “distressed” that her costume “offended people.”
Martha Stewart isn’t exactly apologizing for her controversial Halloween costume. But she does have an explanation.
The lifestyle icon sparked immediate backlash on Sunday by posting a photo of her spooky season get-up. Fans, followers, and everyday netizens all condemned Stewart for appearing to dress up as a homeless person, prompting her to quickly delete it. In screenshots of the post, Stewart wore a ripped and disheveled outfit, sported dirt on her face, and held up a sign that read, “I am hungry. Please help!!”
A few hours later, Stewart released a statement to Page Six. “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 continued: “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.”
In closing, Stewart remarked that she was “committed to continuing to make a difference.” She also described Halloween as “one of [her] favorite holidays of the year,” and pointed to the decades she has spent “teaching others how to celebrate Halloween — sharing fun, festive recipes, providing unique craft ideas, and giving tips on entertaining and hosting.”
Entertainment Weeklyhas reached out to representatives for Stewart for comment.
Although she deleted the offending photo, the backlash continued in the comments section on an unrelated post that went up on her official Instagram on Sunday — a video of Stewart walking viewers through a chicken and dumplings recipe.
“Now go make this for a soup kitchen full of people you just turned into a Halloween costume,” quipped a commenter.
“What happened to your costume? Got embarrassed?” asked another. “The Halloween costume is unforgivable,” chided an additional critic.
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Though she isn’t regarded as a “Queen of Halloween” on the level of Heidi Klum, the entertaining maven’s costumes do usually make a splash. She dressed in full royal regalia inspired by Queen Elizabeth I in 2024, transformed into “Motha” in 2011, and went as “Jane of the Jungle” on the very first Halloween episode of The Martha Stewart Show in 2005.
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