Martha Stewart said Craig Melvin’s chocolate spill led her to wear a costume that drew backlash for appearing to mock people experiencing homelessness. She made the remarks at a CrossCountry Mortgage Sales Rally in Orlando on Tuesday, November 3, according to footage obtained by TMZ.
Stewart said Melvin, a Today host, had spilled chocolate on the sweater she planned to wear for Halloween. With little time to get ready for a party, she said she chose what she described as the easiest costume: dressing as a homeless person. She added that she put up a sign reading “I’m hungry.”
Melvin and his Today colleagues had dressed up for the show’s Halloween broadcast on October 30. Melvin’s costume paid tribute to Snoop Dogg’s role as an official Olympics correspondent, while Stewart made a surprise appearance as herself, the report said.
Stewart posted a photo of her Halloween costume on Instagram on October 31. The image showed her in ripped clothes with smudged makeup and a sign that read, “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME.” She later deleted the post after facing criticism.
In an apology published by Page Six on November 1, Stewart said she was distressed that the costume had offended people and that causing offense was not her intention. She also said homelessness was a serious issue she cared about and had supported charities working to address it.
Stewart later posted a second apology on Instagram, saying her earlier statement had not gone far enough. She acknowledged that the costume was insensitive and not funny, and said she was sorry.
Sources: Us Weekly.