Martha Stewart posted, then deleted, a photo of herself dressed as a hungry homeless woman in a post selling her QVC candles, and she says the costume was meant to raise awareness of homelessness.
Story Highlights
- Stewart, 85, posted a Halloween photo of herself in tattered clothes holding a sign that read “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME!!”
- The photo was part of an Instagram post promoting her QVC candles, captioned “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!”
- She deleted the post after a flood of criticism, but screenshots kept spreading.
- In a statement, she said she was “distressed” people were offended, but she did not apologize.
A Costume Pulled From a Candle Promotion
On Halloween, Saturday, October 31, Martha Stewart shared a set of Instagram photos promoting the candles she sells on QVC, the TV shopping channel. One photo showed the 85-year-old lifestyle businesswoman in ripped, worn clothes with dirt smudged on her face. She held a cardboard sign that read “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME!!” Two dogs sat on a porch in front of her. The caption read, “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!”
Criticism poured into her comments, and the post came down quickly. By then, users had taken screenshots, and the image spread across social media after it was gone. Nothing in the post pointed to a charity, a donation link or any homelessness group.
Stewart’s Awareness Defense Meets Skepticism
On Sunday, November 1, Stewart gave reporters a statement. She said she was “distressed” that her Halloween costume, “which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention.”
She called homelessness “one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises” and “something that I care deeply about.” She said she has spent “a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic,” and added, “I am committed to continuing to make a difference.” The statement did not include an apology. It also did not name any charity, donation or campaign. A representative for Stewart did not immediately respond to a request for more comment, according to reports.
Critics Call Out the Wealth Gap
Many critics called the photo “offensive” and “gross,” and some called Stewart “out of touch.” They said it looked like a wealthy woman mocking people who live in poverty. Stewart’s net worth is estimated at $400 million, according to reports. “Definitely tasteless. Of all the things she could have done,” one X user wrote. Another online commenter urged her to simply say she was sorry.
Not everyone was upset. Some fans defended her. “It’s Halloween and it’s a joke,” one wrote. Another said, “people are way too sensitive!”
A Real Crisis Treated Like a Costume
Studies of how homelessness is shown in the media have found that the same images come up again and again: torn clothes, a dirty face and a cardboard sign asking for help. Researchers say those images can feed stigma, the shame and unfair judgment people without homes already face. Stewart’s photo used every one of them, and it sat next to a sales pitch for candles.
Families struggling to pay rent and veterans sleeping on sidewalks need real help, and a celebrity’s word carries weight. Stewart has said she wants to make a difference. Naming the charities she supports, and showing what that support has done, would give her “awareness” message something solid to stand on.
Sources:
pagesix.com, complex.com, people.com, usatoday.com, variety.com, newsobserver.com
