T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach are stepping up to defend David Muir, the ABC News anchor, after he faced criticism for how he adjusted his flame-retardant jacket while reporting on recent wildfires in Los Angeles. In a recent episode of their podcast, “Does This Make Me Look Fat?” Robach expressed her support for Muir, explaining that he simply cinched his jacket to achieve a more polished appearance on-screen. She emphasized the visual nature of television, stating, “Television is a visual media. Cinching your jacket isn’t uncommon.”
While Robach shared her own experience with adjusting clothing in the field, Holmes offered a different perspective. He admitted he hasn’t cinched his clothing but acknowledged that wardrobe professionals often assist reporters in these situations. “People might be missing the perspective,” he noted, suggesting that a wardrobe person could have adjusted Muir’s jacket without him realizing.
Holmes highlighted the hard work Muir puts into his reporting and criticized those piling on with negative comments. “Just a little context: the guy works his butt off,” he said. “If you don’t like what he did, fine, but it feels like a lot of piling on.”
Despite the backlash, insiders at ABC reportedly felt “embarrassed and horrified” by the incident, and some even questioned Muir’s choices. One source expressed concern, saying Muir’s narcissism is evident and noted that while other anchors might wear fitted clothing, they wouldn’t do so in a situation like a wildfire.
When Muir returned to the air after the controversy, he opted to leave his jacket open, clearly responding to the criticism. The incident has drawn significant attention, as viewers reacted strongly to the footage of Muir adjusting the clamp on his jacket during a live broadcast.
