“Homelessness continues to remain one of America\u2019s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about,” entrepreneur says in statement after deleting photo of controversial costume <\/p>\n
\n\tMartha Stewart<\/a> has issued a statement after posting and then deleting a photo of herself dressed as a homeless person for Halloween.<\/p>\n \n\tThe businesswomen and TV personality shared the photo on Instagram Saturday, showing her face dirtied, wearing ripped jeans and a torn sweater, and holding a blank clipboard that read \u201cI Am Hungry Help Me!!\u201d while standing with two dogs outside of a house.<\/p>\n \n\tThe photo was included in a carousel of photos tied to her line of QVC candles. The image was quickly met with backlash online and on social media, and deleted soon after.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Sunday, Stewart sent to a statement to Page Six<\/a> saying she was \u201cdistressed\u201d about the reaction to the photo, adding that it was meant to raise awareness to the issue and not mock it.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI 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,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n \t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cHomelessness continues to remain one of America\u2019s greatest challenges and ongoing crises, something that I care deeply about and I have spent a significant amount of time and effort supporting charities that combat this ongoing social epidemic.\u201d Stewart added that she is \u201ccommitted to continuing to make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe situation hasn\u2019t kept Stewart off social media, as she was back on Instagram Sunday morning with a post about saffron<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t