Martha Stewart Admits Error Over Homeless Costume, Charity Clarifies Role

WHO:

CNN - Martha Stewart is a TV personality, entrepreneur, author, and described by CNN as America’s first self-made female billionaire.

CNN - Stewart said she had spent significant time and effort supporting charities that combat homelessness.

TMZ - A spokesperson for God’s Love We Deliver said the organization does not serve homeless people.

CNN - Critics on social media condemned Stewart’s costume; one called it “tone-deaf,” while another called it “grotesque, disgusting, morally bankrupt, incredibly wrong.”

WHAT:

CNN - Stewart posted an Instagram photo, later deleted, showing her dressed as a homeless person. She wore a black hat, distressed jeans, and a cardigan, had black marks smeared across her face, and held a sign reading “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!”

CNN - Stewart promoted her candle collection in the post’s caption.

CNN - Stewart apologized twice. She said her costume was “insensitive and not funny” and wrote, “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up.”

CNN - Stewart said her earlier statement “didn’t go far enough” and added, “I am very sorry.”

CNN - Official data cited by CNN says more than 700,000 people in the United States are homeless.

TMZ - God’s Love We Deliver clarified that it does not serve homeless people.

Inc - The article describes Stewart as 85 years old and says she deleted the post and apologized twice.

WHERE:

CNN - The Instagram post concerned homelessness in the United States.

WHY:

CNN - Stewart said the costume was intended to raise awareness of homelessness, which she called one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises.

CNN - Stewart said she was distressed that the costume offended people and that causing offense was never her intention.

CNN - Stewart said she knew many people were suffering economically.

HOW:

CNN - Stewart addressed the backlash in remarks to Page Six and later apologized in a statement posted to her Instagram story.

CNN - CNN said it had reached out to Stewart’s representatives for further comment.

(UPDATED November 2, 2026 20:11 UTC)

Martha Stewart deleted a homeless-person costume post after widespread criticism of its insensitivity. She apologized twice, saying the costume intended to raise awareness, not cause offense. Stewart cited her charity work, but the named organization clarified it doesn’t serve homeless people.