How Martha Stewart Expertly Pulled Off This "Bloody" April Fools’ Day Prank
The Yes, Chef! star loves to summon her "inner prankster" on April Fools' Day.
Through the years, Martha Stewart has taught us so many invaluable life lessons. Her thoughts on aging are inspiring, her recipe for fluffy pancakes is game-changing, and her skincare secrets are beyond simple. The star of NBC’s cooking competition series Yes, Chef! has also taught us the power of a solid, harmless April Fools’ Day prank.
RELATED: Self-Made Billionaire Martha Stewart's Path from Lifestyle Mogul to Yes, Chef! Host
This might come as a surprise to some, but Stewart is the ultimate prankster. Read on to revisit an especially memorable April Fools’ Day joke she pulled on her producers over two decades and why she loves the silly holiday so much.
Martha Stewart expertly pulled off a bloody April Fools’ Day prank in 2002
During a 2002 episode of her show, Martha Stewart Living, which ran for 11 seasons, Stewart took a quick detour from the program to pull an April Fools' Day prank on her producers.
“But you know what? I think it’s so pretty,” Stewart says, holding up a portion of a colorful yo-yo quilt before abruptly covering her eye. “Oh, God! I’m sorry,” she says and then ducks down to the floor, acting as if she’s crying. “I’m sorry, oh I’m such a terrible…”
As Stewart stands back up, she’s holding a dishrag that appears to be covered in red blood as one of her producers runs to her aid. “April Fools!” Stewart says with a smile, revealing she’s completely fine. Her producer screams and then hugs her in relief as they both break out in laughter. “I’m so mad at you!” the producer jokingly tells Stewart.
RELATED: Martha Stewart Says She Sometimes Gets Confused with This Other Famous Blonde
“Red food coloring!” Stewarts says while holding up the white towel, still cracking up. “Look how effective!”
The pranked producer then hilariously put the rest of the staff on blast. “Who cares the most?” she said with her arm around Stewart’s shoulders. “Right here!”
Martha Stewart loves to channel her “inner prankster”
Who knew Martha Stewart was such a prankster? April Fools’ Day 2002 was far from the only time she has successfully pulled off a hilarious prank. In fact, she wrote about her love of a silly joke in a 2019 blog post.
“April Fools' Day offers the chance to summon your inner prankster and catch friends and family cautiously off-guard,” she wrote. “I always enjoy a good laugh and have participated in many fun, harmless, and successful pranks over the years.”
For example, in a 2011 episode of Martha Stewart Living ahead of Easter, Stewart pranked warm-up comedian Joey Kola. As she’s talking to her audience about dying Easter eggs, Stewart breaks out into a coughing fit. Kola asks if she needs water and Stewart tells him to continue with the segment.
RELATED: Snoop Dogg Trying Escargot for the 1st Time with Martha Stewart Is So Chaotic
“Okay… You want me to do this?” he asks with a sense of panic. “Yeah? I’m gonna do it? Alright, here we go! Well, I love making Easter eggs.”
“Just read the prompter,” Stewart tells him, with a cup of tea in hand.
Kola fully embraces the task Stewart handed off to him. “Now on today’s show is another sign of spring — Easter! And since it’s only a few weeks away, we’ve invited…”
Meanwhile, Stewart continues to cough and give him notes. “Slower,” she says with a raspy voice. Kola tries to focus on the segment’s guest but is visibly concerned about Stewart coughing off to the side. “I’m just worried about our host!” he says.
Stewart then walks towards him holding one sign that reads “Enough’s enough!” and another that says “April Fools.”
“Look at my hands! I’m actually shaking, you scared the hell out of me!” Kola says after the reveal. “I have to go change myself now. Oh my goodness! Martha Stewart and her April Fools' prank on me, everybody!"
