Martha Stewart ‘Very Sorry’ Her Halloween Costume Was Offensive

Martha Stewart issued a public mea culpa when her Halloween costume appeared to offend people.

The lifestyle guru has since deleted a photo on  Instagram of her wearing torn clothes, a face apparently covered in dirt and a sad expression while holding a clipboard with the message: “I am hungry. Help me!”

Her dressing as a “hungry” homeless person offended people, who said the costume was insensitive when “many people are suffering economically.”

Stewart responded to the backlash with a statement Sunday to People magazine.

“I’ve spent decades teaching others how to celebrate Halloween — sharing fun, festive recipes, providing unique craft ideas and giving tips on entertaining and hosting to make the most of one of my favorite holidays of the year,” she said.

“I am distressed that my Halloween costume yesterday, which was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness, has offended people, which was never my intention,” she added. 

Stewart, described as the country’s first self-made female billionaire, added, “Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic.”

Stewart, 85, later issued another statement in a post on one of her verified Instagram accounts.

“It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up,” Stewart said. “My earlier statement didn’t go far enough.”