Martha Stewart’s Halloween took a turn this week when a photo of her costume, featuring tattered clothes, dirty makeup, and a sign reading“I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME,”sparked backlash online. She deleted the post and issued two apologies, calling the outfit insensitive and admitting it was a bad call. The moment got even more real when her own grandson told her the costume was tone deaf, a detail she shared herself.
On Friday, November 6, Stewart appeared on the Today show, where co-host Craig Melvin asked her directly why he got dragged into the drama. Earlier in the week, Stewart had joked that Melvin spilled chocolate on a sweater, forcing her to change costume plans. On air, she insisted it was only a joke and she never blamed him. She also owned the costume mess head-on:“It was stupid, what else can I say? I’m so sorry.”
Stewart says she’s paying closer attention to social issues going forward, and she’s set to return to the Today show next week with Thanksgiving tips. The whole saga is a reminder that tone matters, apologies land better when they’re direct, and sometimes the toughest feedback comes from your own family. What’s the worst costume fail you’ve ever witnessed?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.