Martha Stewart Issues a Second Apology After Backlash Over Her Halloween Costume

Martha Stewart has long been known for going all out on Halloween. The lifestyle icon’s elaborate costumes have become a yearly tradition that fans look forward to, and her holiday posts usually draw plenty of praise across social media.

This year, though, her costume sparked a very different reaction. On October 31, the 85-year-old shared a photo on Instagram as part of a carousel promoting her QVC candles, captioned with a note that her candles were perfect for Halloween.

In the photo, Stewart posed on a porch dressed as a homeless person, wearing ripped clothing and makeup that made her face look dirty. She held a cardboard sign reading “I am hungry, help me!” while 2 dogs sat at her feet.

The image quickly drew criticism from followers, many of whom called it insensitive. Stewart later deleted the carousel. Stewart initially responded in a statement to Page Six on November 1.

According to Parade, she said the costume was meant to raise awareness about homelessness, added that she was upset it had offended people, and noted that she has supported homelessness charities.

Martha Stewart apologizes for dressing up as a homeless person for Halloween: “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. 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. – Martha”

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 2, 2026

She also replied in the comments of a Just Jared Instagram post. There, she said the costume was designed to bring homeless and hungry people to everyone’s mind, but admitted she hadn’t explained it the right way, before asking followers whether they support causes that help.

Some people felt that response missed the mark. ‘Pose’ star Indya Moore argued that Halloween is about caricatures like monsters and villains, not groups of people in crisis, and said an apology that ends by questioning the people you offended isn’t really an apology.

Martha Stewart addresses her homeless person Halloween costume in 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. […] 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.” (https://t.co/cuZF2B1tv0)

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 1, 2026

Later that day, Stewart issued a more direct apology. In a Notes app message shared on Instagram, she admitted that it’s hard to own up to a serious mistake and acknowledged that her earlier statement hadn’t gone far enough.

She went on to say that she knows many people are struggling financially, and called the costume insensitive and not funny. She closed the message by saying she was very sorry. The second apology was widely shared online, including by Pop Base on X. Many readers saw it as a clearer acknowledgment of the criticism than her first response.

The response to the apology has been divided. Some commenters questioned why her team or friends hadn’t warned her before she posted the photo, while others criticized the Notes app format.

Martha Stewart shared photo seemingly dressed up as a homeless person for Halloween. She has since deleted the post. https://t.co/PzTX1BoDhK

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 1, 2026

Others argued that the costume showed a disconnect from people facing real hardship, pointing out that many families are close to struggling to feed their children. Still, some followers defended Stewart, saying she clearly didn’t mean any harm and questioning whether a Halloween costume deserved this much criticism.

Stewart’s situation shows how quickly a celebrity Halloween post can turn into a public controversy. Costumes that touch on real-life struggles can easily come across very differently than intended, especially when tied to a promotional post. For now, Stewart has made it clear that she regrets the costume. Whether her apology will be enough for her critics remains to be seen.

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