Martha Stewart Says She Was 'Dragged into Solitary' in Prison and Had No Food or Water for 24 Hours

Mar. 15, 2025

Martha Stewart leaving court in 2004.Photo:Spencer Platt/Getty

Spencer Platt/Getty

Martha Stewart’s stay infederal prisonwas no cupcake.

The lifestyle mogul spent five months at Alderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia (nicknamed Camp Cupcake) after she was found guilty on charges including conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the sale of a stock. Thenew Netflix documentaryMartha(out Oct. 30) looks at her “terrible” time there.

Stewart, 83, provided filmmaker R. J. Cutler with personal letters she had written throughout her life, some from behind bars. A voiceover reads the letters inMartha.

On the first of 150 days in prison, Stewart writes: “Physical exam, stripped of all clothes. Squat, arms out, cough — embarrassing.”

Martha Stewart leaving prison in her poncho.Scott Olson/Getty Images

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Stewart is also interviewed in the documentary. “I had to do all that crap that you see in the movies. You can’t even believe that that’s what you’re going through,” she said.

The letters reveal a run-in with two prison guards that got Stewart in trouble.

Stewart recalls apologizing, but because “the incident was so minor when it occurred” she put it out of her mind — until her punishment came.

“I was dragged into solitary for touching an officer,” Stewart said on camera. “No food or water for a day. This was Camp Cupcake, remember? That was the nickname. Camp Cupcake. It was not a cupcake.”

A representative for the Federal Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on allegations from 2004 but said the bureau “confines offenders in facilities that are safe and humane.”

“Every individual is provided with the basic necessities of life including regular meals three times a day and access to potable water regardless of where they are housed,” they added in a statement.

Alderson Federal Prison Camp.oe Raedle/Getty Images

oe Raedle/Getty Images

InMartha, Stewart describes her cell at the jail. “My room contains an old double-decker bedstead metal spring and metal frame,” she wrote. “The springs are very saggy and thus an unhealthy bed set. I would actually prefer the top but over 62-years-old and you automatically are given a lower bunk.”

The first U.S. female billionaire recalls waking up at 4:00 a.m. to start her daily routine there.

“What worries me is the very poor quality of the food and the unavailablility off fresh anything as there are many starches and many carbs, many fat foods. No pure anything,” she wrote.

“Everything was terrible,” Stewart adds.

Martha Stewart with daughter Alexis leaving prison.JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

Marthafollows her release from jail (in herfamous handmade poncho) and her ultimate comeback.

“I just hope that everyone gets a few life lessons from the film tonight and understands what’s been going on," she told PEOPLEat the premiere on Oct. 21.

Marthastreams on Netflix on Oct. 30.

source: people.com