TJ Holmes, Amy Robach and David Muir
Getty Images (2)TJ Holmes AND Amy Rob they are protecting themselves David Muir after he received widespread backlash for using a clothespin on his fire jacket while reporting on the Los Angeles wildfires.
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, was criticized when viewers noticed the box of clothes clutching his jacket during a live cross on Wednesday, January 8, and accused him of caring more about his TV image than the natural disaster he was reporting on. .
Holmes defended Muir against that charge, claiming that the news anchor may not even have been aware of the existence of the clothespins.
“Perspective can be missing if you just read tweets. The perspective can be missing in that, often times – and I don’t know if he – travels with a producer or even a wardrobe person whose job is – you can be looking at your phone, getting the latest, looking at notes or doing something, and people are pulling and strapping things on you, the microphone and the IFB (in-ear monitor) and all that stuff,” Holmes explained. “You don’t even know what’s going on with you, and someone can to have made the decision “Let me do this with the jacket”. We don’t know.”
Holmes said that despite using clothespins, he believed Muir to be a hard worker.
He continued: “But just a little context, the guy kicks ass. You don’t like what he did, fine. It’s just too much to pile on.”
However, Holmes admitted that it was bad for a TV reporter to be caught worrying about the superficial when reporting on an event where people have lost their lives and their homes.

David Muir
ABC“The idea that people — even if they’re in the middle of a tragedy — about to anchor a prime-time show wouldn’t give a damn about their appearance is just preposterous. Now to what degree should they care is the question and to what degree should they walk away as if they care is a separate issue but of course he should care and pay attention to how he looks before he goes on TV .” said Holmes. “But if your house was on fire and you see a guy there with a mirror brushing his hair doing all this before he goes on the air and reports on your tragedy, it’s going to upset you .”
Robach, meanwhile, admitted that when reporting from the road, she usually makes a concerted effort not to look too “glamorous” for that reason, keeping her hair and makeup simple.
“I’m very careful as a journalist not to look like I’m worried about how I look at that moment,” she said. “We all look different at the scene of these kinds of tragedies than we do on set. On set, we have hair and makeup, beautiful costumes and fitted outfits, but when you’re there, it’s just a very different environment.”
Robach also defended Muir against the backlash he’s receiving and said she doesn’t believe he deserves it.
“I don’t think he deserves the hate he’s getting… I don’t think that’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 look are constantly. being criticized or accepted, so you can have a hyper-awareness of that,” she said.
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