Martha Stewart apologizes after deleting homeless Halloween costume photo

Martha Stewart held a sign reading, “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!” while wearing tattered clothes and makeup made to resemble dirt in a Halloween photo she later deleted from Instagram.

The 85-year-old posted the image in a carousel promoting her QVC candle collection, captioned, “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!” Screenshots spread after the post came down, and critics called the costume offensive, out of touch and dismissive of people experiencing homelessness.

The strange part: The photo used homelessness as a Halloween look while also selling candles. That was the part critics did not miss.

In her first response on Nov. 1, Stewart said she was “distressed” that the costume had offended people and said it had been intended to bring awareness to homelessness, not to offend. She described homelessness as one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, said she cares deeply about the issue and has supported charities that combat it.

The catch: That statement explained her intent, but it did not directly apologize for the costume. Stewart addressed that gap in a later Instagram post: “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.”

Why it matters: A costume can be a joke to the person wearing it and a reminder of real danger to someone trying to find food or shelter. Stewart’s second statement acknowledged that difference more plainly than her first one did.

The question now is whether the apology, rather than the deleted photo, becomes the last word on a Halloween post that turned a serious crisis into a costume.