Martha Stewart apologizes for dressing as homeless person for Halloween

The photo, which has since been deleted, was included in a carousel post on Instagram that was promoting candles Stewart sells on QVC, per the New York Post. The caption stated, “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!”

The photo depicted Stewart, 85, posing with ripped-up clothing, dirt on her face, and a sign in her hand, similar to a panhandler.

The photo quickly drew backlash. Actress Indya Moore wrote, “A rich woman dressing up as a hungry, homeless person brings more awareness to how out of touch and apathetic wealth makes people than it does motivate people to empathize and activate. If you were serious about poverty, you’d use your platform to back policies that tax the rich, put free food in front of people who are hungry and homeless and provide free healthcare and education.”

Moore also took aim at Stewart’s apology, writing, “Most of the people following you are not wealthy. They are far closer to poverty than you are. So when they question the intentions of a wealthy white woman wearing poverty as a costume, that is a fair question. Flipping it back on them is passive-aggressive and insulting.”

One social media user wrote, “I think that Martha Stewart wins this year for the most tone-deaf Halloween costume.”

Another said the move was “grotesque, disgusting, morally bankrupt, incredibly wrong,” adding, “What in the ‘let them eat cake’ is this costume?”

Stewart said in a statement to Page Six through her rep following the backlash, “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.”

She posted a statement to her Instagram that read, “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. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry.”