Stewart apologizes for Halloween homeless look

Martha Stewart issued a second apology on Sunday after a photo of her in a homeless person costume for Halloween generated widespread criticism on social media. The 85-year-old entrepreneur, who was named one of Forbes' 250 greatest self-made Americans in August, acknowledged that her initial explanation was insufficient.

In a statement signed simply with her first name and posted to Instagram, Stewart described the outfit as "insensitive and not funny." She admitted the error directly, stating, "It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up." Stewart noted that many people are currently suffering economically, which made the choice of attire particularly difficult for her followers to accept.

The original image, which has since been deleted, showed Stewart wearing a tattered sweater and jeans with smeared makeup on her face. She held a sign that read, "I am hungry. Help me." Screenshots of the post circulated widely after the initial backlash began.

Stewart's first response, provided to the New York Post's Page Six, claimed the costume was meant to draw attention to the severity of homelessness. She expressed distress that the outfit had offended people, adding that she had spent considerable effort supporting charities that address the crisis. Her second statement on Instagram, however, moved away from that defensive framing to a direct admission of fault.

Reactions from Stewart's followers remained mixed following the second apology. One commenter noted that more people were angry about the costume than were motivated to help homeless individuals. Another observer suggested the incident exposed a disconnect between wealthy figures and the general population.

The debate occurs against a backdrop of rising homelessness in the United States. According to the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development in May, more than 745,000 people were homeless on a single night in January 2025. The agency reported that homelessness increased by 27 percent between 2013 and 2025, while unsheltered homelessness rose by 36 percent during that same period. ABC News has reached out to a representative for Stewart for further comment.