Watch: Martha Stewart Blames Today’s Craig Melvin for Her Controversial Homeless Costume
Martha Stewart didn’t mean to cause a stir.
Days after the lifestyle guru received backlash for posting a photo of herself dressed as a homeless person for Halloween, she explained her thought process behind the costume, claiming it was the result ofToday host CraigMelvinaccidentally getting chocolate on her during the show’s Oct. 30 episode.
“He spilled chocolate all over my white sweater, which I was gonna wear on Halloween night,” Stewart said at the CrossCountry Mortgage Sales Rally in Orlando Nov. 3, per footage obtained by TMZ. “When I picked up the sweater, I said, ‘Oh god, it’s so dirty. I only have 10 minutes to get dressed for this Halloween party.’”
“So the easiest costume was to get dressed up as a bum,” the 85-year-old continued. “I looked at myself and I said, ‘You really look hungry and homeless,’ so I wrote a sign that said, ‘I’m hungry.’ And boy, did that go off.”
E! News has reached out to Melvin’s reps for comment but has not heard back.
On the Halloween episode of Today, Stewart led a cooking demonstration in a recreation of her 2026 Winter Olympics look, while Melvin dressed as her longtime friend Snoop Dogg. As Melvin reached for the chocolate ganache, he accidentally spilled some on Stewart.
“Real Snoop would never do that,” she playfully chided, to which Melvin quickly replied, “So sorry, Martha.”
Marc J. Franklin for TODAY
Amid criticism over Stewart’s Halloween costume—which included a beanie, ragged jeans and a plaid button-up under a torn cardigan with dirt smeared across her face—the cookbook author deleted the photo from Instagram and expressed remorse for causing controversy.
“I’ve spent decades teaching others how to celebrate Halloween,” she said in a statement toPeople on Nov. 1, “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.”
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“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,” she continued, “which was never my intention.”
The TV personality also issued another apology on Instagram, which has since been deleted.
“It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up,” she wrote, per Entertainment Weekly. “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.”
For a look at more of Stewart’s shocking confessions over the years, keep reading.
2024 Martha Stewart/Courte
2024 Martha Stewart/Courte
2024 Martha Stewart/Courte
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