Martha Stewart’s ‘old money’ neighbors complaining about her flashy new pals
A “new money” couple has infiltrated Martha Stewart’s social circle in old-school Westchester — and we’re told her “jealous” neighbors don’t like it one bit!
“People are jealous. There were never parties like this in Westchester before, but it’s new money!” a source lamented to Page Six of a recent over-the-top local birthday bash with the domestic diva as the guest of honor.
Designer Andy Chia Yu and his partner, Dr. Evan Goldstein, who’s a “nationally renowned Manhattan anal surgeon,” moved to the ritzy “old money” community a few years ago.
But skeptical neighbors are describing Yu as someone, “eager to get on the ‘who’s who list’ of the hood,” and “he did it by clinging to Martha,” alleged one.
“They’re together all the time! No one understands their relationship. She was always so guarded, and they move in for three years, and now they’re bosom buddies,” an annoyed neighbor said.
The couple hosted a party to celebrate Goldstein’s birthday last week with Stewart — who turns 82 on Aug. 3 — as their guest of honor. (An Evite boasted: “It’s our annual summer party, we will have a DJ and international food/wine, and a lot of fun, perhaps the cover model of 2023 sports illustrator [sic]).”
Stewart sexily graced the cover of the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue this year.
Sources told us the festive bash was largely sponsored by local vendors, and a well-heeled neighbor even sneered that the “tacky” scene was akin to, “an expo of vendors, like a South Beach Food Festival.”
“People in the town are fed up with it. It’s too much. We have homes in these neighborhoods so we’re not bothered,” the annoyed source said.
Text messages from other neighbors obtained by Page Six included lines such as, “Did you see Martha’s bday party? It’s like Star Jones wedding… when she pimped ‘The View’ to get free s–t.” Simply put, “It’s all gross,” one neighbor huffed.
A source close to Stewart told us she “was a guest at the event. She was not a part of the planning, but she had a nice time.”
A source who knows the couple described them as “new money.” “[Andy’s] a nice guy but hasn’t figured out the subtleties and intricacies of Westchester culture and social life,” they said. “It’s as buttoned-down and unshowy as old money gets.”
Yu doesn’t seem bothered by the criticism.
On Wednesday, he told us, “I’m not selling anything at all. All I want to do is create memories for myself, my family and my community.”
“Tacky or not tacky, we did the best we could, and everyone had a great time. Some people don’t like it, but my happy guests and friends enjoyed their time together with me,” he said.
Yu told us that he spends “all my effort and time, volunteering and helping people.”
“I’m very happy to be in the community,” he said. “[There will] always be people who love you, people who hate you… I don’t discriminate against people because of their money and status… if you’re friendly to our family, that’s the bottom line.”
As for concern that he’s using Stewart to social climb?
“She’s the sharpest woman in America. Do you think she would let people use her? If she felt like I was using her, I don’t think we’d be this cool,” he said.
A rep for Stewart did not get back to us by deadline, but the icon posted about the birthday bash on Instagram, thanking the vendors and “my dear neighbor… Andy for a wonderful afternoon and a very fun filled party!”
Yu and Goldstein may get the last laugh because Stewart isn’t the only power neighbor keeping them company, we’ve learned.
On Wednesday, the couple had dinner with music legend Clive Davis — who owns a home in nearby Pound Ridge — and high-end realtor Greg Schriefer at the Polo Bar in Midtown before hitting Drake’s sold-out Madison Square Garden show together, we hear.
