We are approaching the one-week mark since multiple destructive fires ignited across Los Angeles, California. The largest of these is the Pacific Palisades Fire, which has scorched over 23,000 acres and is currently 14% contained. The Eaton Fire, located more inland, has burned more than 14,000 acres and is 33% contained.
Reports indicate that more than 13,000 structures have been destroyed, nearly 200,000 residents have been forced to evacuate—though some have since returned—and the death toll stands at 24, with numbers expected to rise.
Related: Disney Faces Wildfire Challenges: Cast Member Evacuations and Studio Closures
As Los Angeles grapples with some of the most destructive wildfires in recent history, longtime ABC News anchor David Muir has found himself in the spotlight—not for his coverage, but for his attire.
Muir, a seasoned journalist known for his work on World News Tonight, traveled to Los Angeles to provide on-the-ground coverage of these catastrophic events.
However, social media was quick to divert its focus from the fires to Muir’s flame-retardant jacket. An X (formerly Twitter) user criticized the anchor for the clothespin holding his jacket in place, calling it a “narcissistic” move.
Nice Jacket Bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground.
Nice Jacket Bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/bGQ3zvF6lr
— Jack Osbourne (@JackOsbourne) January 9, 2025
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The criticism quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate online.
Despite the backlash, many viewers came to Muir’s defense, pointing out practical reasons for the pin.
With the infamous Santa Ana winds exacerbating the fires, the pinned jacket likely helped secure Muir’s microphone, ensuring clear audio for his reporting.
Brian Tyler Cohen, a prominent commentator, tweeted:
My God, the state of rightwing media today is a joke. We’re now on day two – TWO! – of a nonstory about David Muir using a clothespin to keep his jacket tight, assuredly so that his loose jacket wouldn’t interfere with his lav mic in the intense winds.
My God, the state of rightwing media today is a joke. We’re now on day two – TWO! – of a nonstory about David Muir using a clothespin to keep his jacket tight, assuredly so that his loose jacket wouldn’t interfere with his lav mic in the intense winds. pic.twitter.com/Dg4tuTBAlm
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 10, 2025
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Meanwhile, reports from Page Six suggested that ABC insiders were embarrassed by the incident, calling it a “fashion faux pas.” Some even labeled Muir as having a tendency toward narcissism.
We’re told people at the network were “embarrassed and horrified” by the gaffe. Multiple insiders pointed to Muir’s Instagram account, which features the physically fit newsman regularly broodily mugging in form-fitting T-shirts with extra-short sleeves that show off his physique.
But sources also told us that the fashion-world move of cinching a jacket is par for the course for one of ABC’s leading men.
A source told Page Six of the anchor: “His narcissism is quite large in the sense of this kind of thing. I like David, except for this part of him. Anderson [Cooper], [Chris] Cuomo wear all the [muscle shirts], but they would never wear this [during a wildfire].”
Related: Disney Makes Emotional Pledge After Thousands of Structures Destroyed, Cast Members Displaced
However, former ABC News reporters defended Mr. Muir, though they acknowledged it wasn’t the best optics.
Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes, who were dismissed after their affair became public, suggested that Mr. Muir may not have even realized the clothespin had been placed there.
“The perspective might be missing if you’re just reading tweets. The perspective might be missing in that, often times – and I don’t know if he does – travel with a producer or even a wardrobe person whose job is – you might be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something, and people are pulling and plugging things onto you, the mic and the IFB [in-ear monitor] and all these things. You don’t even know what’s happening to you, and someone could’ve made the decision of ‘Let me do this with the jacket.’ We don’t know.”
While the focus on Muir’s jacket may seem trivial, it highlights a growing trend of media figures being scrutinized for their appearance, even in the midst of covering serious events.
The ongoing wildfires remain the true crisis, with thousands of firefighters battling the flames under challenging conditions.
If you’d like to support those affected by the fires, organizations like the California Fire Foundation and World Central Kitchen are accepting donations to assist with relief efforts.
California Fire Foundation Wildfire & Disaster Relief Fund: https://www.cafirefoundation.org/what-we-do/for-communities/disaster-relief
California Community Foundation: https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/
World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen: https://donate.wck.org/give/499865/?_gl=1*1xkrdmj*_gcl_au*MTk5MDIxMzExMS4xNzM2Mzc0ODk2*_ga*ODkwNjgzOTc0LjE3MzYzNzQ4OTY.*_ga_5WKVY8503C*MTczNjM4MzQ3OS4yLjAuMTczNjM4MzQ4MC41OS4wLjA.#!/donation/checkout?c_src=navbar
Dream Center: https://dcf.dreamcenter.org/relief
Direct Relief: https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/california-wildfires/
The California Community Fund: https://www.calfund.org/funds/wildfire-recovery-fund/
Do you think it was absurd for people to focus on David Muir’s clothespin? Or was it just a practical tool to help with his reporting? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Oh please people get a life! Focus on the real story here, not a made up one.