By ADAM S. LEVY, US SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
Published: 09:38 EST, 18 December 2025 | Updated: 09:42 EST, 18 December 2025
Martha Stewart opened up about a broken toe she suffered while attending an NBA game earlier this year, as she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Tuesday.
The 84-year-old star was on hand May 21 during an NBA playoff contest between the hometown New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.
The Jersey City-born lifestyle guru suffered the injury when Knicks guard Jalen Brunson fell on her foot - leading her to call it the 'Brunson Fracture.'
The lifestyle maven said she picked up a new essential piece of life wisdom from the collision with the two-time NBA All-Star.
'Never, ever wear open-toed shoes to a game like that when you're sitting on the floor,' Stewart said. 'He stepped on my big toe on this foot.'
She noted her footwear choice for the occasion - $835 Manolo Blahnik Patopia Slingback Sandals- to the NBC late night host.
Martha Stewart opened up about a broken toe she suffered while attending an NBA game earlier this year as she appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Tuesday
'That's why I'm wearing open-toed shoes, because it's the only kind of shoes I can wear now,' said Stewart.
Stewart recalled details of her painful exchange with the professional athlete: 'I knew it was broken immediately - and he sat on my lap, comes crashing down.'
Stewart said Brunson had a chilly feeling during the fast-paced athletic exhibition.
She continued: 'I grabbed his arm and his arm was like icy cold and I thought, "He's a basketball player, he should be sweaty" - he was cool as a cucumber.'
Stewart made clear she bore no grudges against Brunson - a fellow New Jersey native - over the fractured foot, as she described him as 'super-duper' and 'so great.'
She said in the immediate aftermath of the incident, she reassured Brunson all was well.
Stewart told Fallon of an exchange with Brunson, 'I said, "It's OK," that's all I said - and he didn't know he broke my foot, but he broke my foot.'
The game was almost as rough for the hometown Knicks, who at one point were up on 14 points but lost by a 138-135 score in overtime, which further complicated matters for Stewart.
Stewart told Fallon of an exchange with Brunson, 'I said, "It's OK," that's all I said - and he didn't know he broke my foot, but he broke my foot'
Stewart said in the immediate aftermath of the incident, she reassured Brunson all was well
Brunson piled up 43 points in the high-scoring game, which went into overtime
Stewart made clear she bore no grudges against Brunson - a fellow New Jersey native - over the fractured foot, as she described him as 'super-duper' and 'so great'
The stalwart TV star said things got 'more painful' as the game went on as she 'couldn't get up and leave to go take care of [her] toe' with the arena essentially at a standstill.
Stewart said after the injury, she told Brunson's parents what happened, as his father Rick Brunson is an assistant coach in the organization.
Stewart said that Jalen Brunson tried to make good with a memento for one of her loved ones.
'All I got out of it was a signed basketball for my grandchild,' she joked.
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights on NBC at 11:35/10:35c.