Oh, David Muir, where do we even begin? The anchor of World News Tonight decided to give us all a masterclass in priorities—or lack thereof—when he showed up to report on the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, not just with a microphone in hand but with a fashion moment so ill-timed it’s almost comical. His flame-retardant jacket, carefully cinched at the back with clothespins for a “tailored” look, was accidentally revealed during a live broadcast. You couldn’t make this up if you tried.
To call this a “fashion faux pas” feels almost too kind. People’s homes are reduced to ash, and firefighters are putting their lives on the line, but Muir thought it was a good time to make sure his jacket didn’t dare offend his Instagram aesthetic. It’s almost poetic how his perfectly posed social media feed came back to haunt him—one insider hilariously likened him to a cross between Zoolander and Anchorman. Ouch. But let’s be real, they’re not wrong.
David Muir, the leftist moderator who debated Trump during the ABC debate…
Wore clothespins on a phony fire fighter jacket to make it fit tighter… while reporting on the wild fires.
You don’t hate the media enough.
pic.twitter.com/tyY30Ah33L— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 10, 2025
And here’s the kicker: this isn’t just a one-off accident. Muir has a reputation for his “tight black T-shirt” uniform and carefully curated image of brooding seriousness. Sure, everyone in the public eye is conscious of how they appear on camera, but there’s a time and place for vanity—and standing in the rubble of someone’s burned-down home is not it.
The backlash wasn’t limited to insiders snarking about his Abercrombie & Fitch vibes. Even Hollywood’s Jack Osbourne weighed in, calling him out on social media with a sarcastic jab: “Nice jacket, bro.” When you’ve got rock royalty roasting you while your city burns, maybe it’s time to rethink your priorities.
But Muir wasn’t alone in this comedy of errors. ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic was right there on the scene, essentially playing babysitter. For those not familiar with the inner workings of network news, it’s not exactly standard for a bigwig like Karamehmedovic to tag along unless something monumental—like a presidential debate—is happening. So what’s the deal? Are we really supposed to believe the president of ABC News just happened to be there to oversee coverage of the wildfires? Or is this just another example of the network propping up its golden boy?
Of course, ABC News put out the usual “move along, nothing to see here” statement, insisting Muir is focused solely on the victims and firefighters. Right. Because nothing says “focused on the suffering” like a staged wardrobe tweak that screams, “How do I look from this angle?”
David Muir finally ditched the clothespins, opting for a more relaxed fit
🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/j8TLlWtDKp
— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) January 10, 2025
This whole episode is another glaring example of the media’s obsession with optics over substance. Instead of digging into the real stories of loss and resilience that these wildfires represent, the conversation is now about clothespins and tailored jackets. Honestly, this is exactly the kind of tone-deaf move that fuels the public’s mistrust of the mainstream media. While Muir’s Instagram might love the spotlight, this misstep reminds us why so many Americans tune out. They’re tired of the self-serving theatrics.
So, here’s some free advice for David Muir and ABC News: less runway, more reality. Maybe next time, leave the clothespins at home and focus on what really matters—the people whose lives have been upended while you’re busy perfecting your profile shot.
