November 2, 2026

Why did Martha Stewart think it would work to go as a homeless person for Halloween?

I remember, back in the 1950s, going as a "hobo" was as common as going as a witch or a ghost. But in the 2020s, it's so obviously insensitive that one wonders how she could have thought it was a good idea. My theory is that she thought her own real-life image was so strongly the opposite of a homeless man that everyone would get it. She's incredibly neat and put together and made up and smiling, not smudged with dirt and disheveled. And she would never need help getting food. She's a provider of food, always helping others cook and arrange food. So — ha ha — she's going as the opposite of Martha Stewart.

Compare Donald Trump, going as Donald Trump to his Mar-a-Lago Halloween party. He said he only had 10 minutes to get ready. But if he'd had a little more time, maybe he'd have come up with Martha's idea and assembled a costume that would read as the opposite of Donald Trump. What would that be? Undo his usual hairstyle. Wipe the orange off of his face, if it comes off. Get rid of the red tie and boxy suit and go with baggy shorts and an oversized t-shirt with that big Obama logo.
See? That would be funny.

But Martha as the opposite of Martha... not funny.

18 comments:

Kai Akker said...

--- I remember, back in the 1950s, going as a "hobo" was as common as going as a witch or a ghost

Maybe because there weren't any hoboes left by then.

Saint Croix said...

The answer to her critics ought to be.

I have white skin.

So I am privileged, according to some people.

Even if I am homeless.

People on the left! Roll down the windows of your BMWs and tell the white homeless man how privileged he is.

Saint Croix said...

Watch Out For the Humble Brag

Rocco said...

A hobo is not the same as a homeless person. One is itinerant with no fixed address who travels looking for work. The other has no home, is not (usually) working, and tends not to move around as much.

Maybe Martha should have gone out in an orange jumpsuit. Or maybe the striped pajamas from the old cartoons.

Aggie said...

Now all the Envy Outrage Chatter. It's a Halloween costume, FFS.

Her only mistake was to publish a picture of it.

imTay said...

So if I dressed as Boxcar Willie, will I be cancelled?

gadfly said...

Last Sunday, President Trump announced that he didn’t want Norwegian immigrants coming to America because Norway had failed to give him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Venting his frustration, the president also declared, “Norway sucks” and called it a “shithouse country.” These remarks apparently came as news to Norway’s approximately 5.6 million citizens, who have been quietly going about the business of living in one of the world’s wealthiest, healthiest, happiest, and most successful democracies.~ The Bulwark

Eric the Fruit Bat said...

It blew my 3rd grade mind to see my cute-as-a-button crush come to the front door trick-or-treating dressed as a hobo looking hideous with burnt cork on her face and the fright wig and everything but the pillowcase for a trick-or-treat bag pulled it all together.

Wilbur said...

gadfly has taken the lead in the 2027 Althouse Awards race for Most Off-topic Comment in 2026.

hanuman_prodigious_leaper said...

Good job of portraiture by Professora. Monetize it.

RideSpaceMountain said...

Funny that many of her critics aren't using the appropriate term. The appropriate term is "unhoused" bigots.

#Dobetterbigots. Do better.

Big Mike said...

@Althouse, here I thought your name was Ann, not Karen. You can resign from the humor police at any time.

rhhardin said...

Hobos are 20% of the homeless. Crazy 40%, addict 30%. Out of luck 10%. Mnemonic CATO (T=tramp)

rhhardin said...

Dress up as easily offended. There's something to mock.

CJinPA said...

I think most people know what she was aiming for. In fact, they feign ignorance in direct replies to the X post above where she SPECIFICIALLY STATES HER INTENT, some saying "What was she thinking??" She just told you, dummy.

I've expended all patience with calculated outrage.

Not Illinois Resident said...

The Donald protype is missing its sidekick, the multi-pierced purple-haired liberal overweight woman in jeans and tshirt minus the bra, with her "No Kings" protest sign. Plenty of them lounging in our rural city, outraged at Trump, while boisterously supporting our brainless boy-child mayor created by our two purple-haired Dem chairladies.

bagoh20 said...

She was missing the crack pipe.

Gusty Winds said...

"She's a provider of food..." Obviously not to poor people.

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