ABC News anchor David Muir got skewered for “narcissism” when he was shown wearing a clothespin to cinch in his fire-protective jacket as he covered the Los Angeles wildfires on Wednesday. (Watch the video below.)
However, the newsman’s intentions were not as they seemed, according to a person who had details of the remote broadcast.
Several media outlets piled on to the online allegations of vanity against the network reporter. TV host and producer Jack Osbourne shared an X clip of Muir turning to the fire damage as he reported, exposing a clothespin-like clamp and perhaps another that tailored his coat to a more flattering form.
“Nice Jacket Bro. Glad you look nice and svelte with those clothes line pegs, while our city burns to the ground,” Osbourne wrote.
The viral post generated plenty of vitriol. One person called Muir a “tool” and another attempted a grander take on the state journalism.
“I can’t believe the media can continually lower our faith and expectations yet again and again they succeed,” another wrote.
But someone whom Mediaite identified as a “source familiar with Muir’s live hit” told the outlet:
“This was 30 seconds before air, a producer stepped in to try to fix [his] coat in the wind. This had nothing to do with David Muir asking for anything.”
The multiple fires, fueled by strong winds and tinder-dry conditions, have killed at least five people and destroyed nearly 2,000 buildings as of Thursday morning, The Associated Press reported.
HuffPost has reached out to ABC for comment.