Martha Stewart recently faced backlash for her choice of Halloween costume, where she dressed as a homeless person. During an event in Orlando, Florida, on November 3, she mentioned that Today show host Craig Melvin had a part in her costume idea. She explained that Melvin, who dressed as Snoop Dogg on an October 30 broadcast, accidentally spilled chocolate on her Halloween sweater. Stewart said she had only a short time to prepare for a Halloween party and decided that the easiest option was to dress as someone experiencing homelessness.
She shared a photo of herself in the costume on Instagram but later removed it. Stewart issued a statement saying her costume was meant to raise awareness about homelessness, a serious issue. She expressed her distress that some people found the costume offensive, which was not her intention. Stewart highlighted her long history of teaching people how to celebrate Halloween and said that she cared deeply about addressing homelessness in America.
After receiving further criticism for her statement, Stewart acknowledged that she could have communicated better. She recognized that her costume was insensitive and apologized, noting that many people are facing economic hardships.
What do you think about Stewart’s costume choice?
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Source: popculture.com, by Samantha Whidden