Lifestyle mogul Martha Stewart is pointing fingers at Today show host Craig Melvin after her 2026 Halloween costume sparked backlash for appearing to mock people experiencing homelessness.
Rather than owning her lapse in judgment, Martha claims Craig forced her into the controversial costume.
According to TMZ, Martha shifted the blame while speaking onstage at the CrossCountry Mortgage Sales Rally in Orlando on November 3. She claimed Craig was responsible for ruining the sweater she originally planned to wear for Halloween.
“What’s his name on the Today show? Craig, who played Snoop [Dogg] on the Today show on Friday. He spilled chocolate all over my sweater, which I was gonna wear on Halloween night,” Martha alleged.
During Today’s Halloween broadcast on Friday, Craig and his fellow anchors paid tribute to NBC’s history. Craig dressed as Snoop Dogg, who previously served as an official Olympics correspondent. Martha, who has a 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,’” Martha explained. “The easiest costume was to get dressed up as, you know, a bum.”
She 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.”
Martha originally shared a photo of the costume on Instagram on Saturday, October 31. The ensemble featured ripped clothing, smudged dirt across her face, and a sign reading, “I AM HUNGRY. HELP ME.”
After extreme backlash, Martha apologized for her costume and post. “It’s hard to admit when you’ve really screwed up. My earlier statement didn’t go far enough. I know many people are suffering economically. Wearing a costume as I did was insensitive and not funny.”
She concluded her message with a straightforward apology: “I am very sorry. Martha.”
