The caption made no reference to the costume, reading simply: “My QVC candles are perfect for Halloween!!!”
Though the image was quickly scrubbed from Instagram, users had already captured screenshots, which soon spread across Reddit and other platforms. A similar post reportedly remained visible on her Facebook page as of Sunday.
The reaction online has been furious, with many social media users branding the costume “offensive,” “gross” and “out of touch”, especially given Ms Stewart’s net worth stands at $400 million (roughly £320 million).
Several critics took particular issue with a multimillionaire dressing as someone experiencing homelessness at a time when many Americans continue to grapple with an affordability crisis.