Martha Stewart Apologizes to Craig Melvin for 'Stupid' Joke About Homeless Costume

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Martha Stewart made a public apology to “Today” show host Craig Melvin for her “stupid” joke blaming him for her “tone deaf” homeless Halloween costume.

Stewart, 85, appeared on “Today” Friday, when she explained to Melvin, 47, that she had been speaking in jest and never thought that people would take her comments so seriously.

“I was making a joke, I was giving a talk and I just made a joke that you had spilled chocolate on me and I couldn’t wear that costume [I planned on wearing]” Stewart said.

The lifestyle guru stated at an event in Florida on Nov. 3 that she had only worn the controversial get-up because Melvin had spilled chocolate on her during a “Today” appearance, claiming that she was forced to make a last-minute costume pivot as a result.

Melvin admitted to Stewart that he was surprised he got “dragged into it” because he thought they had moved on from the accidental spill, which took place during a live “Today” segment on Oct. 30, the day before Halloween.

“But I did apologize for spilling the chocolate and we moved on,” the journalist noted, prompting Stewart to state that she has also “moved on, now.”

“It wasn’t your fault about the chocolate,” she clarified. “I made a mistake. I was stupid. What else can I say?

“I’m so sorry and I hope that my followers and my fans and the rest of America forgives me for doing something that was not meant in any way to be a bad thing.”

The businesswoman also addressed America in her public apology, telling viewers she “was not making fun of anybody or making light of the great problems that face our country.”

“I certainly hope our new administration takes big steps to repair a lot of the damage that’s being done, and the poor, and the hungry and everyone else is taken care of better,” she added.

Stewart also revealed that she first realized she went wrong with the controversial Halloween costume after she sent a picture of it to her grandson.

“He saw the picture first and I said, ‘What do you think?’ And he said, ‘Tone deaf.’ It was just stupid and I apologize.”

Stewart first sparked backlash over the weekend after she posted — and quickly deleted — a photo of herself wearing tattered clothing, with dirt smeared across her face, while holding a sign begging for food.

“I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!” the sign read in her Instagram snap.

Although the photo was removed shortly after it was shared, before eagle-eyed social media users captured screenshots and quickly eviscerated the costume, which users branded “offensive,” “gross” and “out of touch.”

Hours after deleting the image, Stewart released a statement via her rep, claiming the costume “was intended to bring more awareness to the very serious subject of homelessness.”

“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.”

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