Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes are jointly defending their former ABC News colleague David Muir, who has been hit with a flurry of criticism for cinching in his jacket while covering the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires.
On the Jan. 10 episode of the iHeart podcast “Amy & T.J.,” Robach described Muir as a “consummate professional,” and shrugged off claims that his decision to adjust the fit of his outfit was motivated by “vanity.”
“He cinched his jacket, as many of us have done in the field and on the set, to create a cleaner line,” she explained. “Television is a visual medium. So, yes, I have cinched my jacket.”
Holmes echoed those sentiments.
“The perspective might be missing if you’re just reading tweets,” he said. “Just a little context: The guy works his butt off. You don’t like what he did ― fine. It’s just a lot to be piled onto this.”
Muir’s name began trending on social media on Wednesday of last week after an ABC News broadcast in which a clothespin was briefly visible on the back of his jacket, leading many to assume he’d wanted the garment to appear more form-fitting.
It didn’t take long for the incident to catch the eye of a number of public figures, including reality TV personality Jack Osbourne and former Fox News host Megyn Kelly.
“Nice Jacket Bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,” Osbourne wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
On her SiriusXM show, Kelly blasted Muir for his “abject vanity,” calling his jacket a “costume” and saying, “He’s in love with his own face, waistline and opinion, and it shows.”
Muir has not commented publicly on his onscreen ensemble, but has not visibly worn clothespins in subsequent broadcasts.
Robach and Holmes, former “Good Morning America” co-hosts, exited ABC News in early 2023, shortly after it was revealed that their relationship had gone from professional to romantic.
Despite their defense of Muir personally, the former anchors pushed back on an explanation offered by an ABC News source, who told the outlet Mediaite that the veteran journalist’s jacket had been cinched to secure it against high winds.
“I’ve never, ever pinned a jacket because of the wind,” Robach said. “That is simply a response that did not ring true for me and that was, I think, unfortunate, because that seemed like a desperate attempt to explain away something that we all know the truth to. He ― or someone ― wanted his jacket to not be as boxy for whatever reason.”
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Added Holmes: “Both of those things can be true ― that you care about your appearance while also caring about the story you’re doing and busting your butt on the story you’re doing. ... Still, we’ll acknowledge: It looks bad.”
Listen to Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes discuss David Muir on their “Amy & T.J.” podcast here.
English (US) ·