Martha Stewart Blames Craig Melvin After Halloween Costume Backlash

Martha Stewart's Halloween costume drew criticism after she posted a photograph of herself portraying a homeless person. The image showed her in tattered clothes, with dirt on her face, holding a sign reading "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!", according to the Daily Mail.

The Instagram photograph was subsequently deleted. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the removed image showed Stewart in ripped clothing holding the appeal for help.

On November 1, Stewart responded to the backlash by saying she was "distressed" that the costume had offended people. She said the outfit was meant to bring awareness to homelessness, TMZ reported.

Her initial response also emphasized her concern about the issue. Variety reported her statement that homelessness was "something that I care deeply about."

By November 2, Stewart had offered a more explicit apology. She said she had "really screwed up," according to the Guardian. The Hill reported that she called the costume insensitive and said she was "very sorry" that it offended people.

CBC described that statement as a second apology. The South China Morning Post reported that Stewart acknowledged the costume was "insensitive and not funny."

Also on November 2, a spokesperson for God's Love We Deliver, a charity Stewart supports, said it did not serve homeless people, TMZ reported. That clarification added another issue to the controversy following her explanation that the costume was intended to raise awareness.

The latest coverage, dated November 4, reports another explanation from Stewart. TMZ said she was now attributing the costume choice to Today show host Craig Melvin, describing his influence as accidental. The Daily Beast also reported that Stewart was blaming Melvin.

The supplied coverage does not explain precisely what Melvin said or did, or include a response from him. Stewart has acknowledged that the costume was insensitive, but the latest reports shift the focus from her apology to her account of how she chose it.