--- title: "Martha Stewart deletes homeless-costume Halloween photo and apologizes twice: «tactless and not funny at all»" description: "85-year-old Martha Stewart deleted a Halloween photo dressed as a homeless person holding an «I'm hungry» sign and apologized twice, calling the costume tactless after social media backlash." date: 2026-11-02T17:00:20.984Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/martha-stewart-apologizes-for-halloween-costume tags: [martha-stewart, halloween, celebrity-news, social-media, homelessness] author: "Marina Slivenko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Martha Stewart deletes homeless-costume Halloween photo and apologizes twice: «tactless and not funny at all» ![Martha Stewart posing in front of a branded Michael Kors event backdrop](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/02/marta-styuart-izvinilas-za-kostyum-na-hellouin/marta-styuart-izvinilas-za-kostyum-na-hellouin-1.webp) ## Key Points - Martha Stewart posted a Halloween photo dressed as a homeless person with a sign reading «I'm hungry. Please help me» while advertising her own candles in the same post - Following a wave of social media criticism, the star deleted the photo and commented on the situation twice on Instagram - In her first statement, she explained her intention to bring attention to homelessness; in the second, she admitted the costume was tactless and apologized 85-year-old American TV host and entrepreneur Martha Stewart has found herself at the center of public backlash over her Halloween costume. On Saturday, October 31, the star posted a picture on social media where she posed dressed as a homeless person — and shortly after, following a mounting wave of criticism, deleted the post and commented on the situation twice on Instagram. ### What the controversial costume looked like In the published photo, Stewart poses in ripped jeans with makeup imitating dirt on her face, holding a sign that reads, «I'm hungry. Please help me.» According to TMZ, in the same post the TV star was also advertising her own candles, noting in the caption that they are «perfect for Halloween.» It was this combination of a costume referencing a socially vulnerable person with the commercial promotion of a product that became the main trigger for audience discontent. ### Wave of criticism and deletion of the post The outfit quickly sparked outrage on social media. Users pointed out the inappropriateness of turning poverty and homelessness into an entertainment and advertising context, especially when performed by a public figure with an impeccable image. Under pressure from criticism, Martha Stewart deleted the photograph from her account, but the deletion did not resolve the issue — an official explanation was required. ### First statement: intention to draw attention to homelessness In her first comment, the TV star explained that she wanted to draw attention to the problem of homelessness with such a costume. At the same time, she admitted she was upset by the reaction of those who might have been offended by the look. «I am very sorry that my Halloween costume offended people, although that was not my intention,» she wrote. Stewart emphasized that homelessness remains one of the most acute problems and crises in the U.S., noting that she dedicates a lot of time and effort to supporting charitable organizations that fight this phenomenon and intends to continue such work. ### Second apology: «it's hard to admit when you've truly messed up» Later, Martha published another statement on Instagram acknowledging that her previous words were not enough. «It's hard to admit when you've truly messed up. My previous statement was not comprehensive enough. I know many people are facing financial difficulties. Wearing a costume like that is tactless and not funny at all. I am so sorry,» she stated, effectively stepping back from her initial argument about «good intentions» and admitting the mistake outright. ### Context: boundaries of using social issues in the public sphere The incident with Stewart has once again raised a persistent theme in public discourse — the acceptable boundaries of using social issues, particularly poverty and homelessness, for entertainment and commercial purposes. This episode highlights the audience's heightened sensitivity to economic inequality in the U.S. and shows how quickly a public statement can turn into a reputational crisis even for a star with a long-standing flawless image. Specialized outlets including Page Six and TMZ have reported on the matter, and the social media reaction has sparked a broader discussion about public figure ethics. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Марта Стюарт извинилась за скандальный костюм на Хэллоуин: "Мне очень жаль"](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/stars/marta-styuart-pereprosila-skandalniy-kostyum-1793638496.html) - Primary source: describes the October 31 photo post, the homeless costume with a sign, candle advertising according to TMZ, deletion of the photo, and Stewart's two statements with quotes. - [85-летняя Марта Стюарт извинилась за скандальный костюм на Хэллоуин](https://lady.mail.ru/article/601962-85-letnyaya-marta-styuart-izvinilas-za-skandalnyj-kostyum-na-hellouin/) - Confirms age (85 years), the fact of criticism and apologies; cites Page Six as a source of information. ## FAQ ### What costume did Martha Stewart wear for Halloween? She posed in ripped jeans, with makeup imitating dirt on her face, holding a sign that read «I'm hungry. Please help me.» ### Why did she delete the photo? Due to a wave of criticism on social media; after deleting it, she commented on the situation twice on Instagram. ### What did Martha Stewart say in her second statement? She admitted that her first statement was not comprehensive enough, called the costume tactless and «not funny at all,» and offered an apology.