Martha Stewart is defending a controversial Halloween costume that depicted a homeless person. On October 31, the businesswoman and television personality shared a photo of herself with dirt on her face, ripped clothing and a clipboard reading “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!” After facing criticism, she deleted the post and issued a statement explaining her intention.
In a comment on Just Jared’s Instagram post about the controversy, Stewart said the costume was intended to bring attention to homelessness and hunger. She acknowledged that the message had not been understood as intended because she had not explained it, apologized and said she supports causes addressing those issues. She also asked whether her critics did the same.
Indya Moore, known for Pose, responded in the comments and said Halloween was not an appropriate setting for dressing as a demographic experiencing a crisis. Moore wrote that people do not typically portray groups in crisis to raise awareness and argued that Stewart’s explanation did not amount to an apology for wearing the costume.
Moore also criticized Stewart’s reference to supporting causes without identifying them or describing specific actions. She argued that a wealthy person presenting poverty as a costume could highlight perceptions of wealth being disconnected from people facing hardship rather than encouraging empathy.
The actor further objected to Stewart turning the question back on her followers. Moore said many of Stewart’s followers were closer to poverty than Stewart was, and described the response as dismissive toward those who questioned the costume’s intent. Moore concluded that Stewart should have anticipated that the costume would offend people given the treatment of homeless and hungry people in the country.
Sources: Just Jared.