Martha Stewart is addressing the fierce backlash over a Halloween post that showed her dressed as a homeless person. The lifestyle guru deleted the image and said the costume had been intended to draw attention to what she described as a serious issue, as reported by E Online.

Instead, the post caused controversy, prompting Stewart to express remorse and explain what she had hoped to communicate. She addressed the reaction in a statement to People on Nov. 1.

Stewart began by reflecting on how prominently Halloween has figured into her work over the years. She described it as one of her favorite holidays and pointed to the celebratory ideas she has shared with others.

“I’ve spent decades teaching others how to celebrate Halloween—sharing fun, festive recipes, providing unique craft ideas and giving tips on entertaining and hosting” Stewart said in her statement.

The Martha Stewart Show alum then turned directly to the backlash surrounding her costume. She said the response had left her distressed because causing offense had not been her goal.

“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.”

The photo circulated on social media before Stewart removed it. In the image, she wore torn jeans and a plaid button up shirt beneath another torn button up shirt.

She finished the costume with a beanie and dirt on her face. Stewart also held a clipboard bearing a sign that read, “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!”

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

The post also contained a commercial element alongside the costume and its intended message. Its caption encouraged Stewart’s followers to shop from her QVC candle line.

As criticism mounted, Stewart sought to emphasize that homelessness was not a subject she treated casually. The 85-year-old described the issue as a cause that has remained close to her heart.

“Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises,” she continued in the statement.

Stewart also explained that her concern had extended beyond the Halloween post. She said she has devoted time and effort to supporting charitable organizations working against homelessness.

“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.”

Although the costume produced an outcome she said she never intended, Stewart presented her commitment to the issue as unchanged. She pledged that the backlash would not stop her from pursuing further efforts.

“I am committed to continuing to make a difference.”

E! News reached out to Stewart for additional comment but had not received a response. Her statement to People therefore served as her explanation of the deleted post, its purpose and the offense it caused.

The controversy represents another public misstep for Stewart after decades in the spotlight. Her past comments suggest that she approaches such episodes as setbacks rather than defining defeats.

In 2013, Stewart offered a characteristically resilient description of how she viewed difficult moments. “I've never hit a bottom, just bumps in the road.”

This latest bump arrived during a holiday Stewart has long embraced through recipes, crafts, entertaining advice and hosting tips. Yet the attempt to connect a costume with homelessness instead created backlash serious enough for her to remove the post.

Her response centered on two points: that the costume had been designed to raise awareness and that offending people had never been her intention. Stewart also used the statement to highlight her support for charities addressing homelessness.

The deleted image, the handwritten plea on the clipboard and the QVC promotion all became part of the controversy. Stewart’s statement acknowledged the offense while maintaining that the original goal had been awareness of homelessness.

For Stewart, the response now shifts from the costume itself to the commitment she says will continue. Despite the criticism surrounding the post, she said she remains determined to make a difference through her support of the cause.

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