Martha Stewart has offered a new explanation for her controversial homeless person Halloween costume, now placing blame on Today Show host Craig Melvin. Stewart, 85, faced backlash last week after sharing an image of herself dressed as a beggar, holding a sign that read, "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!"
Stewart, who has an estimated net worth of $400 million, initially stated the costume was intended to raise awareness about homelessness. However, she has since elaborated that the outfit was a last-minute improvisation after Melvin accidentally spilled chocolate ganache on her designer pants and an intended sweater during a Halloween cooking segment on the Today Show.
"And so when I picked up the sweater, I said, 'oh God, it's so dirty'," Stewart recounted onstage at a sales rally in Florida, according to a video obtained by TMZ. "I only have 10 minutes to get dressed for this Halloween party. So the easiest costume was to get dressed up as a, you know... a bum." She added that after looking in the mirror, she felt she "really look[ed] hungry and homeless," prompting her to write the sign.
The incident occurred on the Today Show when Stewart was demonstrating how to decorate a cheesecake with chocolate ganache. The piping bag malfunctioned, spilling the ganache onto her white pants.
Stewart had previously issued two apologies for the costume, expressing distress that it had offended people and reiterating her commitment to combating homelessness through charity work. However, she did not explicitly apologize in her initial statement, emphasizing her long history of promoting Halloween festivities.
The costume's message was widely criticized as tone-deaf and insensitive, particularly given Stewart's considerable wealth. She was once the first self-made female billionaire in the U.S. Her fortune is now derived from real estate, publishing, media projects, and brand partnerships.
This Halloween controversy follows another recent instance where Stewart dismissed the concept of work-life balance, calling those who pursue it "boring."