Martha Stewart blames chocolate spill for Halloween costume blunder

Martha Stewart appeared on the TODAY show on November 6 to address the public reaction to her Halloween outfit, which depicted a disheveled figure holding a clipboard. She told host Craig Melvin that she was not wearing the costume as planned because he had spilled chocolate on her white sweater during their segment the previous week.

Stewart explained that she was giving a talk and jokingly claimed Melvin was responsible for ruining her intended look. She said the remark was a joke, but it spread because Melvin is a well-known figure. "I didn’t have a costume because you had spilled some chocolate on my white sweater, and I don’t blame you at all," Stewart said. "It was a joke that I said I blamed you. It was stupid."

Melvin noted that he had already apologized for the spill and that the two had moved past the incident. Stewart agreed, stating, "And it wasn’t your fault." She clarified that the chocolate spill was the catalyst for the last-minute switch to the costume that drew criticism.

The original plan was for Stewart to wear a different outfit. The costume she actually posted on Instagram featured torn clothing and makeup designed to look like dirt. The image included a clipboard with the text "I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!" and served as an advertisement for her candle collection on QVC. The post has since been deleted.

Stewart acknowledged the criticism from her family, specifically her grandson, who told her the look was tone-deaf. "He saw the picture first because I sent it to him and I said, ‘What do you think?’ ‘Tone-deaf,’ he said," Stewart recalled. She added that the reaction was not meant to mock the issue but to draw attention to it.

In a statement to NBC News on November 1, Stewart said she was distressed that the costume had offended people. She described homelessness as one of America’s greatest challenges and said she had spent significant time supporting charities that combat the crisis. She wrote, "I am committed to continuing to make a difference."

Stewart followed up with a second statement on Instagram the same day. She admitted that her initial response was insufficient. "It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up," she wrote. "My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume like I did was insensitive and not funny. I am very sorry."

Stewart said the experience taught her to pay closer attention to social issues. "Be aware. I’m aware of all those social issues, as you can imagine, and I care desperately about all the problems facing us," she told Melvin. She is scheduled to return to the show next week for the All-Star Thanksgiving segment.