Martha Stewart Blasted For Taking Photos In The Sistine Chapel Against Vatican Rules, Accused Of Flaunting Her ‘Privilege’

Martha Stewart has come under harsh criticism after she posted photos in the historic Sistine Chapel, despite rules that prohibit visitors from electronically documenting the iconic building.

In a post to Instagram on Monday documenting her family’s trip to Italy, Stewart showed off the Sistine Chapel’s intricate ceiling. She captioned the post, “Just a few iPhone photos of what we saw during our quiet hour in the Sistine Chapel!”

She added, “I love the painting and the biblical history that is portrayed in the Chapel. This should definitely be on your bucket list.”

Stewart’s post was quickly met with harsh criticism from internet users who ridiculed her for being exempt from the strict no photos rule inside the church. As stated on the Vatican Museum’s website, “In the Sistine Chapel it is forbidden to take photographs or films with any type of electronic equipment.”

One person remarked, “The rules of NO PICTURES should apply to everyone. Those flashes can ruin the paintings. Please abide by the rules so the next generation can see it too.”

Another wrote, “I love Martha but this is a prime example of the privileged and wealthy having special treatment. Very disappointing.”

However, some fans were willing to defend the convicted businesswoman’s actions; one wrote, “Did you guys forget that she is literally Martha Stewart? She can do whatever she wants.” Another commented, “Absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for showing us your photos.”

Stewart has been in the news recently due to the release of the new Netflix documentary Martha. In the doc, Stewart’s former “best friend” in prison accused her of reneging on her pledge to give her $1 million after her release.