Martha Stewart Confronts Knicks' Jalen Brunson Over Broken Toe

The lifestyle guru finally got a chance to tell the NBA player about the injury he caused during a game at Madison Square Garden.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:37pm

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Martha Stewart has finally confronted New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson about the broken toe she suffered when he stepped on her foot during a game at Madison Square Garden last year. The 84-year-old lifestyle guru appeared on Brunson's podcast to recount the incident, show him the X-ray of her injury, and joke that they've named it the 'Stewart-Brunson fracture.' While Brunson didn't remember causing the injury, he apologized, and Stewart was gracious about the whole ordeal, even taking some of the blame for wearing open-toe shoes to a basketball game.

Why it matters

The story highlights the sometimes-comical interactions between celebrities and professional athletes, as well as the risks fans face when sitting close to the action at sporting events. It also showcases Stewart's signature humor and ability to laugh off mishaps, even when they result in a year-long injury.

The details

During a Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers game last May, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Brunson stepped on Stewart's toe as he was running up the court. He then dove for a ball out of bounds and crashed into her, briefly sitting on her lap. Stewart knew immediately her toe was broken, and the injury took a full year to heal.

  • In May 2025, the incident occurred during a Knicks vs. Pacers game at Madison Square Garden.
  • In December 2025, Stewart first publicly revealed the story during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
  • In March 2026, Stewart confronted Brunson about the injury on his podcast, The Roommates Show.

The players

Martha Stewart

An 84-year-old lifestyle guru who was sitting courtside at a Knicks game when she suffered a broken toe after Jalen Brunson stepped on her foot.

Jalen Brunson

A 29-year-old point guard for the New York Knicks who accidentally broke Martha Stewart's toe during a game at Madison Square Garden.

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What they’re saying

“You jumped up really fast. And I remember saying to you, 'It's okay.' It wasn't okay at all.”

— Martha Stewart

“They've named it the 'Stewart-Brunson fracture.' I have an X-ray, I'm going to leave you a picture of it... it was actually a break, so anyways, it's better now.”

— Martha Stewart

“It's my fault for wearing open-toe shoes to a basketball game. I look back at it as just something silly, stupid, and funny. It was stupid of me.”

— Martha Stewart

The takeaway

This lighthearted story showcases Martha Stewart's signature humor and ability to laugh off mishaps, even when they result in a year-long injury. It also highlights the sometimes-comical interactions between celebrities and professional athletes, as well as the risks fans face when sitting close to the action at sporting events.