Martha Stewart changes her story about ‘offensive’ Halloween costume

Martha Stewart has seemingly changed her story when it comes to her controversial Halloween costume. 

The multi-millionaire lifestyle guru, 85, now says Today host Craig Melvin “spilled chocolate” all over the outfit she was meant to wear during a TV appearance on Friday. 

Stewart appeared on the show on Friday morning (US time) in a white American flag sweater and Olympic cap to make a spiderweb cake and other treats.

But during the cooking segment there was a mishap with Melvin, who was dressed as Snoop Dogg for the show, and he spilled chocolate all over her jumper. 

“What’s his name on the Today show? Craig, who played Snoop [Dogg] on the Today show on Friday,” Stewart, 85, said at the CrossCountry Mortgage Sales Rally in Orlando on Tuesday, per footage obtained by TMZ. 

“He spilled chocolate all over my sweater, which I was gonna wear on Halloween night.”

Read more

Jack Osbourne shares rare update on MS battle after 14 years: ‘Don’t feel so good’

Melvin and the other Today hosts honoured NBC’s history during the October 30 Halloween broadcast, and he dressed up as Snoop in reference to his official Olympics correspondent duties. 

Stewart, given her longtime friendship with the rapper, made a surprise cameo as herself.

“When I picked up the sweater, I said, ‘Oh, God, it’s so dirty [and] I only have 10 minutes to get dressed for this Halloween party,’” she said at the rally, per footage. 

“The easiest costume was to get dressed up as, you know, a bum.”

Stewart continued, “I looked at myself. I said, ‘You look really hungry and homeless.’ So, I wrote a sign that said, ‘I’m hungry,’ and, boy, did that go off [on social media].”

The lifestyle guru uploaded in an Instagram carousel which included pictures of candles Stewart sells on the home shopping network QVC and the controversial costume. 

It wasn’t long before it was taken down from her social media, but not before eagle-eyed users took plenty of screenshots. 

The costume was branded “gross”, “offensive” by many, with a lot of people slamming her for being so out of touch. 

Others took issue with the fact that Stewart, who has an estimated net worth of $400 million ($569 million AUD) appeared to make a joke about those struggling with poverty.

She broke her silence, issuing a statement to Page Six to address the backlash.

“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, which was never my intention,” she told the outlet. 

“Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic.” 

Stewart shared she was “committed to continuing to make a difference.”

On Sunday she followed up with another apology shared on her Instagram.

“It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. My earlier statement didn’t go far enough,” she wrote.

“I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny.”

But despite the apology, Stewart has continued to cop backlash with her activity on social media since, even posting a picture of pastry freebies she received from a Brooklyn bakery.