By Basant El-Faramawy
Martha Stewart has shifted blame for her controversial Halloween costume onto Today show co-host Craig Melvin, claiming a chocolate spill forced her to dress as a homeless person at a recent event.
Costume Origin Explained
Speaking Tuesday at the CrossCountry Mortgage Sales Rally in Orlando, Florida, the 85-year-old lifestyle mogul said her original Halloween outfit was ruined during a Friday baking segment on Today. Stewart was wearing a white sweater with an American flag and an Olympics hat while standing beside Melvin, who was dressed as her friend Snoop Dogg. According to footage shared by TMZ, Stewart said Melvin spilled chocolate all over her sweater, leaving it too dirty to wear. With only 10 minutes to change before her Halloween event, she opted for what she called the easiest costume: dressing as a "bum" or "hobo." She added a sign reading "I'm hungry" after looking at herself and thinking she looked hungry and homeless, which drew laughter from the crowd.
Backlash and Apologies
Stewart initially posted and quickly deleted photos of the costume, prompting widespread criticism for being tone-deaf given her estimated $400 million net worth. She first told NBC News the costume was intended to raise awareness about homelessness, a cause she said she deeply supports. After further backlash over the lack of a direct apology, Stewart posted a second statement Sunday acknowledging she had "really screwed up," calling the costume insensitive and not funny.
