Martha Stewart has apologized after facing widespread criticism over a Halloween costume depicting a homeless person. On October 31, the multimillionaire and former television chef posted a photo on Instagram showing herself in torn jeans, with a dirty face and a sign reading, “I am hungry, help me!!”
The image drew backlash from users who viewed the costume as insensitive, particularly because Stewart was portraying someone asking for food despite her wealth. She later deleted the post as the criticism intensified.
In a statement shared with People, Stewart said she was “dismayed” that the costume had offended people. She explained that her intention had been to draw attention to what she called the “very serious” issue of homelessness, adding that she had supported charities addressing the problem.
According to People, Stewart later posted a second statement on Instagram, acknowledging that her initial apology had not gone far enough. “It’s hard to admit when you really messed up,” she wrote. She also said that many people were currently experiencing financial hardship and that the costume had been “insensitive and not funny.”
Stewart is widely regarded as the first self-made female billionaire in the United States, although her current fortune is estimated at $400 million. She became known in 1982 through her lifestyle cookbook Entertaining and became a billionaire in 1999 when her media company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, went public.
Her career has also included legal setbacks. In 2004, she was sentenced to a $30,000 fine, five months in prison and four months of house arrest in connection with false statements about stock trading.
Sources: FAZ.