“Homelessness remains one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about,” the entrepreneur said in a statement following the removal of a controversial Halloween costume photo.
Martha Stewart has issued a statement after sharing and subsequently deleting a Halloween photograph in which she appeared dressed as a homeless person.
The businesswoman and television personality posted the image to Instagram on Saturday. It showed her with a dirtied face, wearing ripped jeans and a torn sweater, and holding a blank clipboard that read “I Am Hungry Help Me!!” while standing outside a house with two dogs.
The photograph was included in an Instagram carousel tied to her line of QVC candles. The image quickly drew backlash online and across social media, and was deleted soon after.
On Sunday, Stewart sent a statement to Page Six saying she was “distressed” by the reaction to the photo, adding that it was intended to raise awareness of the issue rather than mock it.
“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,” Stewart said.
“Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and have supported through significant time and effort backing charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic,” Stewart added. “I am committed to continuing to make a difference.”
The situation has not kept Stewart away from social media; she returned to Instagram on Sunday morning with a post about saffron.