ABC News anchor David Muir, a familiar face to those tuning in for daily news updates, found himself in the spotlight for reasons outside his typical news reporting. While delivering a report on the severe wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, Muir’s choice of attire caught viewers’ attention.
Set against a grim backdrop of burnt remnants, Muir was clad in what looked like a snug, flame-retardant jacket, an understandable choice given the circumstances. However, observant viewers noticed an unusual addition – a clothespin at the back of his jacket, pulling it tighter to give a more tailored look.
This discovery sparked a wave of criticism online. Many labeled the decision as “narcissistic” and “superficial,” suggesting that Muir cared more about his appearance on screen than the serious nature of the incident he was covering.
This make up wearing mofo used clothes pins to pull in the fire jacket he’s wearing as a prop, so he would look snacky for TV. pic.twitter.com/t9s1Z92iL5
On the following day, the controversy grew when Megyn Kelly commented on her show, accusing Muir of focusing on fashion over the severity of the crisis.
As part of his report from the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Muir was on-site amidst the destruction, illustrating the damage with hand gestures towards the burned surroundings.
During his live broadcast, Muir inadvertently turned, momentarily exposing the clothespin that cinched his jacket, emblazoned with the ABC News logo. “As you can see here behind me,” he narrated, seemingly unaware of the fashion faux pas capturing online buzz.
The Harsh Criticism
Megyn Kelly provided a scathing review: “For starters, he’s sporting a fake firefighter’s jacket. Why is there a need for him to mimic a firefighter’s attire?” she pondered.
“My young boys used to do this kind of dress-up game. It’s not suitable for the host of World News Tonight to be in costume amidst such a serious situation,” she argued. “David Muir doesn’t need a yellow jacket with reflective stripes meant for firefighters,” she commented further.
“It’s theatrics. He’s portraying a character, and that’s precisely the issue here,” she maintained. “The clothespin only reinforces this viewpoint. He’s preoccupied with his self-image—concerned about whether his figure appears trim enough. Heavens forbid anyone perceives David Muir as somewhat bulky.”
Kelly continued, pointing out this incident as another example of what she views as Muir’s misplaced focus. “His false firefighter portrayal, combined with vanity over his physique, is excessive. He’s shown this tendency before, like during the presidential debates where his self-admiration and opinions were obvious,” she concluded. “This incident tarnishes his credibility, and ABC News should really rethink their choice.”