David Muir Supported by Weatherman for Using Clothespin on Jacket

David Muir‘s new friend has his back … no, it ain’t the clothespin he’s used to bunch up his coat — it’s a fellow TV pro, a weatherman admitting he does the same thing.

Greg Dutra — an Emmy-winning meteorologist who works for the ABC affiliate in Chicago — took to IG to defend the face of his network’s national news desk after people online roasted the star for using a clothespin to seemingly make his coat fit his hunky frame better.

The veteran weatherman posted a photo to Instagram Friday taken from behind him in the middle of a live shot … and, his coat is also cinched by a clothespin — a move he says is pretty standard when reporting the weather.

He tagged a couple well-known news outlets in the post … clearly wanting an amendment to the coverage of Muir.

ICYMI … Muir got raked over the coals on social media users earlier this week when, while covering the wildfires raging in L.A., Muir turned to point at something — and revealed a large wooden pin on his back tightening his coat to his body.

Many saw it as a vanity move and called DM out for it … though it’s possible it had a practical purpose — keeping the jacket from flapping about in the severe winds.

Either way, Muir decided to make a change … ’cause for his January 9 live shot, he removed the pin and let the jacket fall more naturally — so, he’s officially left the clothespin club.