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Martha Stewart’s Halloween costume sparked controversy rather than festive cheer. The 85-year-old dressed as a homeless person for Halloween, drawing criticism from people who considered the costume insensitive, particularly amid ongoing economic struggles. Eventually, Stewart apologized for her actions, saying her choice of costume was “insensitive.” 

Stewart faced massive backlash when she revealed her Halloween costume. In the picture, she could be seen wearing a beanie along with tattered clothing. The businesswoman seemingly went the extra mile to make her look on point by smearing dust on her face. She held a board with the text “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!”

Her costume was soon branded “tone deaf” for mocking the homeless. According to Page Six, Stewart issued a statement reflecting on her costume. She noted that it was her attempt to raise awareness about the condition of many in the country. “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. 

The multimillionaire continued to note that homelessness is one of the country’s “greatest challenges and ongoing crises.” She claimed that she cared about the issue very much and has spent “significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic.” 

However, her statement came out more as a clarification and not an apology. An X user noted, “what the hell was she thinking.” Another critic fumed, “Girl, you have enough money to raise awareness without turning homelessness into a Halloween costume.” “Put your money where your fake concern is, Martha,” a third one wrote.

Stewart soon deleted the picture and issued an apology online. “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up,” she wrote. She further admitted, “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.” In conclusion, Stewart apologized for her costume, saying, “I am sorry.”

The businesswoman later shared a rather simple Halloween wish on Instagram. She posted a picture of an outdoor decor with the caption, “Happy Halloween !!!!!!” Stewart turned off comments on the post, following the massive backlash. 

Stewart often shared how she is fond of the spooky festival. According to People, the businesswoman revealed in 2024 that she looks forward to dressing up in costumes months in advance. Besides her costume, she also begins prepping for the festival quite early. 

She revealed, “Come September, I’m ready to go apple picking in the orchard and start selecting interesting pumpkins from the patch to display on the farm and around my home.” The 85-year-old reportedly decorates her home with pumpkins and shares recipes of classic desserts with her followers.

In 2024, she revealed that her editors crowned her “Queen of Halloween.” Sharing the reason behind the title, she said, “As they well know, I truly love to dream up a great costume and get in the spirit.”

Stewart also shared a clip of her celebrating the holiday with Jimmy Fallon during a segment from The Martha Show. It also featured various other incidents that left her viewers in splits. The video appeared to sum up her love for the festival.

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