DAVID MUIR FACES BACKLASH OVER POLYGAMY COMMENTS — FANS CALL FOR BOYCOTT AMID FAMILY TIES TO COLDPLAY AFFAIR SCANDAL
By Staff Writer – July 19, 2025
Longtime ABC anchor David Muir is facing intense criticism and a growing online boycott campaign after making controversial remarks that many perceived as a defense of polygamy — remarks made all the more inflammatory by his family connection to Kristin Cabot, the woman at the center of the recent Coldplay-affair media storm.
During an informal media Q&A earlier this week, Muir was asked about the public’s reaction to the scandal involving Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who has been accused of secretly maintaining multiple romantic relationships — including one with Kristin Cabot, a corporate executive currently under fire for her role in another high-profile affair with tech CEO Andy Byron.
In response, Muir reportedly said:
“I think it’s normal… People seem to be making a big deal out of this. Are men only allowed to have one wife?”
The comment, now widely circulated across platforms like X and TikTok, triggered immediate outrage from fans, journalists, and human rights advocates. Many have accused Muir of normalizing infidelity and undermining monogamous values, especially given his respected role as a national news anchor.
A Family Tie Fuels the Fire
Adding fuel to the controversy is Muir’s confirmed family connection to Kristin Cabot, who is his first cousin, according to public family records and resurfaced interviews. Cabot has been at the epicenter of not just the Coldplay drama, but also a recent scandal involving her alleged affair with Astronomer CEO Andy Byron — a saga that led to Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, filing for divorce and threatening legal action.
Critics now suggest that Muir’s comments may have been motivated by personal bias, attempting to subtly defend or humanize his cousin amid public condemnation.
“He’s not just making a controversial statement — he’s defending his cousin who is deeply entangled in two scandals,” said media ethics analyst Dr. Amanda Rowe. “It crosses a serious line, especially for someone trusted with objective reporting.”
Public Backlash and Boycott Calls
Within 24 hours of the comment surfacing, the hashtag #BoycottDavidMuir began trending, with fans calling for ABC to issue a statement or consider disciplinary action.
One viral tweet read:
“David Muir has built a career on trust and journalistic integrity — and now he’s tossing it aside to defend cheating and polygamy? We deserve better from our news anchors.”
Multiple online petitions demanding a public apology have gathered over 200,000 signatures combined, while others are calling for Muir to recuse himself from reporting on related celebrity or scandal stories due to potential bias.
ABC and Muir Remain Silent
As of Friday afternoon, neither ABC News nor David Muir had issued an official response to the growing backlash. Muir’s recent broadcasts have proceeded as usual, though viewers noted a distinctly colder tone in the anchor’s usually warm reception.
Privately, sources within ABC are said to be “deeply concerned” over the optics and timing of Muir’s remarks, particularly as the network faces heightened scrutiny over internal standards and public accountability.
“This isn’t just a flippant comment — it’s a reputational crisis,” said one anonymous producer. “We’re talking about the face of our nightly news program essentially trivializing infidelity in the middle of two explosive scandals.”
What Comes Next?
While David Muir has long been respected for his journalistic work and calm demeanor, this controversy threatens to dent the very foundation of his public image. Whether or not a formal apology or clarification will be issued remains to be seen — but the damage may already be done.
As one disappointed fan posted:
“We don’t watch David Muir for tabloid talk. We watch him because we trusted his voice. Now it feels like he’s using that voice to protect his own.”
The Coldplay-affair saga continues to dominate headlines — and with Kristin Cabot, Andy Byron, and now David Muir all under public scrutiny, this tangled web of scandal shows no signs of slowing down.
