TJ Holmes, Amy Robach and David Muir
Getty Images (2)TJ Holmes and Amy Robb defend themselves David Muir after receiving widespread backlash to use a clip on his fire jacket while reporting on the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Holmes, 47, and Robach, 51, who previously worked with Muir at ABC, gave their perspective on the incident during the Friday, Jan. 10, episode of their podcast. “Does this make me look fat?”
Muir, 51, came under fire when viewers spotted the clip fastening his jacket during a live crossing on Wednesday, January 8, and accused him of caring more about how he looked on TV than the natural disaster. which he reports.
Holmes defended Muir against this accusation, claiming that the news anchor may not even have known about it the existence of the clips.
David Muir faces backlash for tailoring his fireproof jacket. Fans are upset with ABC news anchor Muir, 51, after he appeared to use clothespins to grab his waist while reporting on the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 8. When Muir turned to look at the destruction behind him during a news broadcast, viewers (…)
“Perspective can be missing if you’re just reading tweets. The perspective can be missing in that a lot of times – and I don’t know if he does – you’re traveling with a producer or even a wardrobe guy whose job is – you might be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something and people are pulling and plugging things at you, the microphone and the IFB (in-ear monitor) and all that stuff,” Holmes explained. “You don’t even know what’s happening to you and someone might have made the decision, ‘Let me do this with the jacket.’ We don’t know.”
Holmes said that despite using clothespins, he believes Muir is incredibly hardworking.
He continued: “But just a little context, the guy works his ass off. You don’t like what you did, fine. It’s just a lot to pile on.”
However, Holmes admits that it really does look bad for a TV journalist to be caught worrying about superficial aspects when reporting on an event where people have lost their lives and their homes.
David Muir
ABC“The idea that people — even in the midst of a tragedy — about to anchor a primetime evening show wouldn’t care about how they look is just preposterous. How much they should care is the question and how much they should look like they care is a separate question, but of course he should care and pay attention to how he looks before he goes on TV. said Holmes. “But if your house is on fire and you see a guy there with a mirror brushing his hair, doing all that before going on the air and reporting your tragedy, that’s going to make you angry.”
Robach, meanwhile, admitted that when she’s reporting from the road, she usually makes a concerted effort not to look too “glamorous” for this reason, keeping her hair and makeup simple.
David Muir’s dedicated wildfire ensemble was apparently short-lived. Muir, 51, hosted World News Tonight on Thursday, Jan. 9, from Los Angeles, where he reported on the ongoing wildfires ravaging the city. He wore a fire-resistant yellow jacket over a black t-shirt, leaving the coat unzipped, and seemed to miss the now viral clip that (…)
“I’ve taken great care as a journalist not to look like I’m concerned about how I look at the moment,” she said. “We all look different on the scene of these kinds of tragedies than we do on set. On set we have hair and make-up and nice costumes and fitted clothes, but when you’re there it’s just a very different environment.’
Robach also defended Muir from the heated backlash he’s been receiving, saying he doesn’t believe he deserves it.
“I don’t think he deserves the hate he’s getting… I don’t think it’s fair or appropriate in any way — and especially from people who have never had to be on television every day where your image, your looks are constantly being criticized or acknowledged, so you can be hyper-aware of that,” she said.
Check it out LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
