David Muir has brought a wave of embarrassment to ABC News after he cinched his flame-retardant jacket to emphasize his physique while covering the devastating Los Angeles fires, network insiders have claimed.
Muir, 51, was reporting live from the Pacific Palisades on Wednesday when accidentally unveiled to viewers that he had clamped the ill-fitting ABC News-branded jacket in a way that showed off his chiseled torso.
He turned around to face to roaring fires and rubble behind him, revealing the clamps on the back of his jacket to the camera.
The World News Tonight anchor was viciously mocked by fellow journalists and TV producers over the fashion faux pas.
But sources at ABC News have now alleged the network is ’embarrassed and horrified’ by Muir’s gaffe, with several insiders telling Page Six that the ‘narcissistic’ move is typical of the anchor.
‘It’s pathetic. All flexed muscles and posing,’ one source said, referencing how Muir’s Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field. ‘He’s actually “Zoolander” meets “Anchorman.” He forgets he is the face of ABC News, not Abercrombie & Fitch!’
Another insider claimed they had ‘never’ before seen ABC News jackets ‘made to look like a firefighter jacket’, noting that Muir’s jacket ‘matches the first responders’.
Others slammed Muir for ‘trying to look “hot” during a fire’ and argued that covering the catastrophic fires – which have killed at least 10 people and consumed more than 34,000 acres across LA – ‘shouldn’t be about vanity, it should be about people losing their homes.’
Eagle-eyed ABC News viewers noticed David Muir committed a fashion faux pas while reporting on the wildfires in Los Angeles
Using clothespins to cinch ill-fitting clothes is a standard television style maneuvering for when more traditional tailoring is unavailable
Muir, 53, was pointing out the rubble behind him during a stand-up hit in the Pacific Palisades, when he turned around – revealing the fashion faux pas.
‘As you can see here behind me,’ he said, while the clamps could be seen on the back of his jacket.
Insiders have claimed that ABC News president Almin Karamehmedovic, who has been dubbed Muir’s “security blanket”, was on scene during the live hit.
A network president does not typically accompany anchors on a shoot unless they are moderating a presidential debate or interviewing a high-profile individual, such as the president, Page Six reported.
It is unclear why Karamehmedovic, who used to be Muir’s producer before taking the job of network boss, was on the scene. But sources say he is ‘excellent at field producing in these situations’. They also note that he and Muir share a ‘level of trust’.
Although the network has not offered an explanation for Muir’s fashion choice, ABC has claimed he was ‘solely focused’ on the fires – not his appearance.
‘Here’s an anchor standing in the middle of horrific wildfires where people have lost everything,’ a spokesperson said in a statement to Page Six. ‘David is solely focused on the people who are suffering and the heroic efforts of the firefighters — and that’s what everyone should be focused on.’
Regardless, the fashion faux pas has sparked heavy criticism of the anchor from fans and industry members alike.
‘Nice jacket bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,’ wrote television producer Jack Osbourne.
Others also chimed in, calling Muir ‘pathetic’ and ‘narcissistic.’
‘He’s a fraud from head to toe,’ journalist Paul V Rea added, calling the host of World News Tonight with David Muir ‘basically a hair model reading a script.’
Another commented, ‘@DavidMuir, just when your reputation hasn’t gotten bad enough.’
Sources at ABC News have now alleged the network is ’embarrassed and horrified’ by Muir’s gaffe, with several insiders saying the ‘narcissistic’ move is typical of the anchor. They referenced how Muir’s Instagram feed is plastered with photos of him sporting tight, black t-shirts while out in the field
Many online called Muir ‘pathetic’ and ‘narcissistic’ for the use of the clamps
Using clothespins to cinch ill-fitting clothes is a standard television style maneuvering for when more traditional tailoring is unavailable, according to the New York Post.
Muir was also mocked on his Instagram account, with one poster writing: ‘You’re so vain, you probably think this fire’s about you, don’t you,’ a reference to the classic Carly Simon song.
Another said: ‘Are you going to clip your flame retardant jacket today too?’
And a third wrote: ‘if you wanted a tailored look then go to a fashion show! So embarrassing.’
Muir’s sartorial awareness was deemed was jarring in front of destroyed buildings, as thousands of people were left with nothing but ash across the City of Angels.
The true extent of the loss remains unknown, as the Sunset Fire is set to wreak burning havoc in the epicenter of the city, causing the famous strip – home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TLC Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Bowl – to be evacuated.
It also comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos.
The two newsmen have been known to have tension and now are barely seen on screen together as a result, as revealed by Oliver Darcy in a holiday edition of the Status newsletter.
‘There certainly has been historic tension — to put it lightly — between the two anchors,’ Darcy wrote in response to a question about the dynamic between Muir and Stephanopoulos.
‘That has resulted in headaches for the network’s bosses. But viewers may notice that, for the last few years, Stephanopoulos has been absent during politics-focused special coverage, such as Election Night. Those duties now fall squarely to David Muir.’
The two news anchors have reportedly had a professional rivalry for years, which widened when Joe Biden‘s advisors chose Stephanopoulos to conduct the first interview with the president following his disastrous debate performance.
The incident comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos
The US Sun also reported in September that as the anchors moved into a new studio in New York City, Stephanopoulos ‘wanted a dressing room as big as rival David Muir’s space.’
‘George has been interested in making sure he gets whatever David Muir gets,’ the insider told the outlet.
‘He’s been asking people on his team to find out what David is getting to make sure his is comparable.’
Muir was born in Syracuse, upstate New York. He wanted to be a journalist from a young age and cites former ABC anchor Peter Jennings as his biggest inspiration.
Muir got his first job in 1994 at Syracuse TV station WTVH.
He spent three years at WCVB in Boston, then joined ABC News as an overnight anchor in 2003.
Muir’s star has steadily risen since and he was named successor to Diane Sawyer after landing the hosting gig of ABC World News Tonight in 2014.