ABC News anchor David Muir received backlash on Wednesday after he was revealed to be wearing a clothespin on the back of his firefighter-style jacket to look better during an on-the-ground report covering the deadly Los Angeles wildfires.
“Good evening tonight from Pacific Palisades here in southern California as multiple wildfires burn at this hour, out of control, across Los Angeles,” reported Muir on ABC World News Tonight as flames and destroyed buildings could be seen behind him.
Reporting that severe drought and winds had “made for a deadly and horrific combination, turning parts of Los Angeles County into a hellscape,” Muir noted that five major fires were currently “burning at this hour” before showing viewers the remnants of a fire in Palisades Village.
“This is the town center of sorts, where there’s normally shopping, a place to eat. Tonight, as you can see here behind me, it’s been completely wiped away,” he said, before turning towards the destruction – unintentionally revealing that his bright yellow emergency jacket was being held at the back by a wooden clothes peg.
With the clothes peg in view for several seconds, Muir continued, “There are still flames burning from multiple buildings here and smoke rising from the ash. Again, this is where the community would be at a time of day like this. Now gone.”
The moment was quickly posted to social media, where users criticized Muir
“Nice Jacket Bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,” reacted television star Jack Osbourne – a Los Angeles resident.
Others defended Muir, pointing out that the practice was commonplace in the television industry.
A source familiar with Muir’s live hit said the clothespin was affixed for practical reasons.
“This was 30 seconds before air, a producer stepped in to try to fix coat in the wind,” the person said. “This had nothing to do with David Muir asking for anything.”
As residents in the fire danger zone evacuated their homes this week, cable news anchors flocked to Los Angeles to get footage of the destruction.
CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reported live in front of several burning homes in Altadena, while CNN reporter Nick Watt was almost hit by a piece of debris while delivering a report in safety goggles near a burning building.
Fox News reporter Jonathan Hunt and Fox Business correspondent Max Gorden also wore yellow jackets, safety goggles, and masks as they delivered reports in front of wrecked homes and buildings.
Watch above via ABC News.