ABC News personalities are making headlines for all the wrong reasons as 2025 kicks off with a series of embarrassing incidents.
According to Fox News, ABC News is grappling with multiple controversies involving its prominent figures, from David Muir's wardrobe mishap during wildfire coverage to Sunny Hostin's husband's legal troubles.
The network's troubles began when "World News Tonight" anchor David Muir faced widespread criticism after being caught using clothespins to alter his appearance during a wildfire report from Pacific Palisades.
While reporting on the devastating Southern California wildfires, viewers noticed clothespins tightening his yellow flame-resistant jacket, apparently to create a slimmer silhouette. Jack Osbourne, son of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, called out Muir on social media platform X for prioritizing his appearance while covering the disaster.
The network's challenges intensified with the revelation that "The View" co-host Sunny Hostin's husband, Dr. Emmanuel "Manny" Hostin, faces serious allegations in a federal lawsuit. The orthopedic surgeon and his practice are among more than 180 defendants named in a RICO case filed in New York on December 17. The lawsuit alleges involvement in a scheme involving kickbacks for surgeries and fraudulent insurance billing practices related to ride-share company insurance providers.
Previous comments made by Sunny Hostin about insurance fraud have resurfaced amid her husband's legal troubles. During a March 2023 discussion about Allen Weisselberg on "The View," Hostin had emphasized the severity of insurance fraud charges, stating:
Prosecutors are like 'Oh really? Well how about we add some additional fraud charges onto you?' And they're talking about threatening him with insurance fraud, which I would say you could get 20 years in prison. So that's a death sentence for him
The situation has created additional pressure on the Disney-owned network, which is still managing the fallout from other recent controversies.
Adding to the network's troubles, reports suggest potential internal conflicts between ABC News correspondents. Jonathan Karl is reportedly seeking to take over George Stephanopoulos' position as host of "This Week" following the network's recent $15 million settlement with President-elect Donald Trump. The settlement stemmed from Stephanopoulos' repeated mischaracterization of Trump's liability in the E. Jean Carroll case during a March interview with Rep. Nancy Mace.
Before the settlement, Stephanopoulos had shown resistance to Trump's legal action, telling Stephen Colbert:
Trump sued me because I used the word 'rape,' even though a judge said that's in fact what did happen. We filed a motion to dismiss.
The network's troubles extend beyond these recent incidents. ABC News has faced criticism over its election coverage, particularly regarding the Trump-Harris presidential debate, where moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis were accused of showing bias in their fact-checking approach.
The series of embarrassing headlines has created a complex situation for ABC News and its parent company Disney. The network's decision to settle with Trump, reportedly made by Disney chief Bob Iger, has drawn criticism from competitors at CNN, NBC, and MSNBC, who argue it sets a problematic precedent for journalism.
The combination of public relations mishaps, legal challenges, and internal tensions has placed unprecedented pressure on ABC News. The network's handling of these various controversies continues to draw scrutiny from media observers and critics alike. These developments occur against the backdrop of broader challenges facing traditional news media organizations in an increasingly competitive landscape.
The network faces the task of maintaining its credibility while addressing these multiple controversies. The resolution of these issues, particularly the legal matters involving Hostin's husband and the aftermath of the Trump settlement, will likely influence ABC News' standing in the media landscape throughout 2025.
