Martha Stewart has apologized for a Halloween costume that depicted a homeless person, admitting she "really screwed up" and that the outfit was "insensitive and not funny."
The 85-year-old lifestyle entrepreneur shared a statement Sunday, stating that her intention was to "bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness," but that she was "distressed" it had offended people.
She later issued a fuller apology: "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."
Stewart had posted a photo of herself wearing torn clothes, with dirt on her face and holding a sign that read, "I am hungry help me!!" She had captioned the original Instagram post, "My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!"
The post quickly drew criticism on social media, with some calling the costume insulting and demeaning. PR expert Molly McPherson wrote that the costume was "a lot" and "insulting? Demeaning? Confusing? All of the above."
Stewart rose to fame in the 1990s with her magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and built a media empire. She briefly became a billionaire when Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public in 1999, though she was later imprisoned in 2004 for charges related to an insider trading scandal. She has since continued her media work, including a television series with Snoop Dogg and expanding her food product lines.