Megyn Kelly slams David Muir’s ‘abject vanity’ after brash jacket gaffe during LA wildfire broadcast
Megyn Kelly took aim at David Muir, accusing him of “abject vanity” after the ABC News reporter tied up the back of his jacket while covering the Los Angeles fires.
Kelly, 54, expressed outrage at what she described as Muir’s attempts to “make his waist look slimmer on camera” while “posing as a firefighter” as he spoke during a broadcast on Wednesday about the devastation in South California.
“The despicable vanity of this man,” Kelly said Thursday on her SiriusXM podcast The Megyn Kelly Show.
‘Yes, he is an actor who worries about his own vanity and beauty in front of the camera. God forbid you think David Muir might be a little round around the waist.”
“This isn’t dress-up time… That’s something my little boys did when they were in the grades… not on the news when people are dying,” she added. ‘What are you doing?’
Muir, 51, has been viciously mocked for accidentally revealing he used clothespins to fasten his coat while reporting on the historic bushfires that have left at least 10 dead.
The World News Tonight host may have noticed the reaction when he showed up to the report from LA on Thursday wearing an unzipped jacket that didn’t appear to be tailored to his figure.
It came as the moles at ABC News reported Page six that Muir’s blunder while covering the LA wildfires had left them ‘ashamed and shocked’.
Megyn Kelly, 54, expressed her outrage at what she described as David Muir’s attempts to “make his waist look slimmer on camera” while “posing as a firefighter”
Keen-eyed ABC News viewers noticed David Muir committed a fashion faux pas while reporting on the Los Angeles wildfires
The World News Tonight host may have noticed the reaction when he showed up to the LA report on Thursday wearing an unzipped jacket that didn’t appear to be tailor-made for his figure
The insiders claimed that Muir’s decision to tie the waist of a fire-retardant jacket with clothespins is par for the course for the “narcissistic” anchor.
‘It’s sad. All tense muscles and posing,” a source said, referring to how Muir’s Instagram feed is littered with photos of him in tight, black t-shirts while out in the field.
‘He’s basically Zoolander meets Anchorman. He forgets he’s the face of ABC News, not Abercrombie & Fitch!’
The insider was referring to Ben Stiller’s fictional supermodel from the 2001 film Zoolander and Will Ferrell’s cheesy Ron Burgundy newscaster from 2004’s Anchorman.
Another insider claimed they had “never” seen ABC News jackets “that looked like a firefighter jacket” before, noting that Muir’s jacket “matches the first responders.”
Others condemned Muir for “trying to look ‘hot’ during a fire” and argued that covering the catastrophic fires — which have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 34,000 acres across LA — “isn’t about vanity should be about, but about vanity. about people losing their homes.’
Muir was pointing to the rubble behind him during a stand-up hit in the Pacific Palisades when he turned around and revealed the fashion mistake.
“As you can see behind me here,” he said, the clips showing 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 the scene during the live hit.
A network president typically does not accompany anchors on a shoot unless they are moderating a presidential debate or interviewing a high-profile person, such as the president, Page Six reported.
Muir likes to post images on social media of himself in his signature tight T-shirts, to the amusement of some of his colleagues
Muir’s on-screen and social media antics have drawn comparisons to fictional supermodel Derek Zoolander (played by Ben Stiller, left) and Will Ferrell’s Anchorman Ron Burgundy (right)
Sources at ABC News have now claimed the network is ’embarrassed and shocked’ by Muir’s blunder, with several insiders saying the ‘narcissistic’ move is typical of the anchor. They referenced how Muir’s Instagram feed is littered with photos of him wearing tight, black t-shirts while out in the field
It’s unclear why Karamehmedovic, who was Muir’s producer before taking the job of network boss, was on the scene. But sources say he is “excellent at field production in these situations.” They also note that he and Muir share a “level of trust.”
While the network has not provided an explanation for Muir’s fashion choice, ABC claims he was “solely focused” on the fires – and not on his appearance.
“Here stands an anchor 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 suffering and the heroic efforts of the firefighters – and that’s what everyone should be focused on.”
DailyMail.com has contacted ABC News for comment on this story.
Regardless, the fashion mistake has led to heavy criticism of the anchor from fans and industry members alike.
‘Nice jacket bro. I’m glad you’re looking nice and slim in those clothesline clips 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,” added journalist Paul V Rea, 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 yet.’
Many online called Muir “pathetic” and “narcissistic” for using the clamps
The incident comes amid an ongoing feud between Muir and fellow ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos
Using clothespins to secure ill-fitting clothing is a standard television-style maneuver 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 is about you don’t you,” a reference to the classic Carly Simon song.
Another asked: ‘Are you also going to cut your flame retardant jacket today?’
And a third wrote: ‘if you want a bespoke look, go to a fashion show! So embarrassing.’
The sartorial consciousness of Muir was shocking to see the destroyed buildings, as thousands of people in the City of Angels were left with nothing but ashes.
At least 10 people were killed and thousands of buildings were set on fire as intense wildfires raged in the Los Angeles area, officials said.
The ruins of a burned building in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Thursday, January 9, 2025
A firefighter protects a beachfront property while battling the Palisades Fire on Thursday, January 9, 2025 in Malibu, California
Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles on Thursday
Fast-moving flames ripped through homes and businesses as residents fled the smoke-filled canyons and picturesque neighborhoods where many celebrities live.
Many of the towering fires that started Tuesday were fanned by powerful Santa Ana winds, which gushed at more than 75 miles per hour in some places. Winds eased Thursday, but the National Weather Service warned that even the reduced gusts could still spread the fire quickly.
The exact death toll remained unclear, but was expected to rise as crews continued to sift through the rubble.
Governor Gavin Newsom said California has deployed more than 1,400 firefighters to battle the blazes. Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona sent teams to help.
AccuWeather, a private company that provides data on weather and its impacts, increased its estimate of damage and economic loss to $135 billion to $150 billion. Government officials have not yet released damage estimates.