ABC News anchor David Muir, known for delivering the day’s most pressing headlines, became part of the news cycle on Wednesday while covering the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
Broadcasting from a charred and desolate street, Muir donned what appeared to be a form-fitting flame-retardant jacket, appropriate for the environment. However, eagle-eyed viewers noticed an unexpected detail: a clothespin discreetly cinching the back of his jacket to create a more tailored appearance.
The revelation sparked immediate backlash online, with critics labeling the move as “narcissistic” and “pathetic,” accusing the anchor of prioritizing his on-camera look over the gravity of the disaster.
On Thursday, the controversy escalated when Megyn Kelly weighed in on her show, accusing Muir of “playing dress-up” amid a serious natural disaster.
David Muir was on the ground in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Wednesday, reporting from the rubble left behind by the devastating wildfires. During a live segment, the ABC News anchor highlighted the destruction, gesturing to the charred remains around him.
While delivering his report, Muir briefly turned, inadvertently exposing a clothespin cinching his yellow reflective jacket, which prominently displayed the ABC News logo. “As you can see here behind me,” he said, unaware that the makeshift styling trick had come into view, sparking an unexpected buzz online.
The Harsh Criticism
Megyn Kelly didn’t hold back in her critique: “First of all, he’s wearing a fake fireman’s jacket. Why is he pretending to be a fireman?” she questioned.
“This is something my little boys did when they were still in single digits. It’s not appropriate for the host of World News Tonight to be playing dress-up in the middle of a disaster scene.” “There’s no reason for David Muir to wear a yellow jacket with reflective fireman stripes,” she said.
“It’s all for show. He’s an on-screen actor, and that’s exactly what this is about,” she asserted. “The clothespin just drives the point home. He’s worried about how he looks—whether his waistline appears slim enough. Heaven forbid anyone thinks David Muir might look a little boxy.”
Kelly didn’t stop there, calling this incident just the latest example of what she sees as Muir’s misplaced priorities. “His pretend fireman act, paired with his vanity over his waistline, is too much. We’ve seen this before, like during the presidential debate when his love for his own face and opinions was on full display,” she added. “He’s discredited himself, and ABC News should really consider moving on.”
