Martha Stewart has issued a statement after posting and then deleting a photo of herself dressed as a homeless person for Halloween.<\/p>\n
The 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 “I Am Hungry Help Me!!” while standing with two dogs outside of a house.<\/p>\n
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The 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
On Sunday, Stewart sent to a statement to Page Six<\/a> saying she was “distressed” about the reaction to the photo, adding that it was meant to raise awareness to the issue and not mock it.<\/p>\n “I 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,” Stewart said.<\/p>\n “Homelessness continues to remain one of America’s 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.” Stewart added that she is “committed to continuing to make a difference.”<\/p>\n The situation hasn’t kept Stewart off social media, as she was back on Instagram Sunday morning with a post about saffron<\/a>.<\/p>\n Best of Rolling Stone<\/p>\n Sign up for RollingStone’s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n