How David Muir Accidentally Became the Internet’s “Daddy” — And Why He’s Just Rolling With It

David Muir has long been known as the calm, composed, and impeccably dressed face of World News Tonight. With decades of journalistic credibility under his belt, the 51-year-old ABC anchor has reported from war zones, natural disasters, and presidential debates — rarely breaking from his trademark stoicism.

So when the internet began referring to him as “Daddy,” Muir was as surprised as anyone.

“I don’t know whether that happens when you hit 50 or what,” Muir said in a recent interview with PEOPLE, laughing. “But I’ll take it as a compliment… I think?”

What began as a few viral TikToks has now blossomed into a full-fledged digital phenomenon. And in the strangest twist of his broadcast career, one of America’s most trusted newsmen has found himself crowned with an unlikely — and slightly cheeky — new title: Dad.

From Anchor Desk to Meme King

The nickname started innocently enough. As fans posted clips of Muir delivering the evening news with his signature intensity, younger audiences began reimagining him through a different lens — one that had nothing to do with journalistic gravitas and everything to do with charisma, confidence, and, apparently, “dad energy.”

TikTok edits of Muir now rack up hundreds of thousands of views. Most are lovingly tagged with captions like “Breaking: Daddy Muir Ends Me Again 🫠” or “He could report on a hurricane and I’d still say thank you.”

There are even compilation videos titled “Top 10 David Muir Moments That Made Me Blush,” soundtracked by moody pop songs and ironic praise. The duality between Muir’s serious persona and the internet’s lighthearted obsession has created a cultural micro-meme that’s both bizarre and oddly wholesome.

The Tumblr Blog That Says It All: Gimme Gimme Muir

Like many modern internet phenomena, this one has grown legs.

On Tumblr, a fan-dedicated blog titled Gimme Gimme Muir has emerged as a curated shrine to the anchor. Visitors can scroll through screenshots, GIFs, fan-made graphics, and even written tributes — all celebrating Muir not just as a journalist, but as an unexpected pop culture figure.

There’s no parody, no mockery — just a kind of ironic reverence. One user captioned a photo of Muir with the line: “He could read me the obituary section and I’d still feel safe.”

A Journalist Caught Between Generations

For someone who built his reputation on trust and integrity, the sudden wave of internet affection might seem off-brand — or at least off-message. But Muir appears to be taking it all in stride.

“People send me the TikToks mostly because they’re laughing at me,” he admitted. “But it’s kind of sweet, in a weird way.”

In many ways, Muir’s newfound online identity is a reflection of how media audiences are shifting. The rise of parasocial fandom — where viewers feel emotionally connected to public figures they’ve never met — is no longer limited to pop stars and influencers. Anchors, reporters, and even meteorologists are becoming meme-able.

Muir’s clean-cut aesthetic, deep voice, and steady delivery have, unintentionally, made him ideal meme material for a generation that consumes news and irony in the same breath.

The “Daddy” Label: What It Says About Us

The term “Daddy” has taken on a life of its own in internet culture. Once exclusively reserved for literal fatherhood, it has evolved into a label of confident admiration — one that blends authority with affection, maturity with sex appeal.

In Muir’s case, it’s about more than looks. It’s about presence. A sense of stability in a world that feels increasingly chaotic. He isn’t playing into it; he’s simply existing, and the internet — in its typically absurd way — has responded with admiration cloaked in humor.

Dr. Elise Thompson, a media psychologist, says the trend reflects something deeper.

“Viewers are drawn to figures who provide calm in crisis,” she explains. “David Muir’s appeal isn’t just physical; it’s emotional. He represents control, reliability, and quiet strength — qualities people project affection onto, especially in unstable times.”

Not the First — But Perhaps the Most Unexpected

Muir isn’t the first news anchor to gain this kind of cult following. CNN’s Anderson Cooper and MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow have also found themselves subject to unexpected online reverence. But unlike them, Muir’s fandom seems driven almost entirely by meme culture, rather than political alignment or commentary.

His absence from social media may also play a role. Unlike other journalists who tweet regularly or host Instagram Q&As, Muir maintains a relatively quiet online presence. That leaves room for viewers to project their own narratives — and their own nicknames — onto him.

He’s Not Mad. He’s Just… Confused.

“I still don’t totally get it,” Muir told PEOPLE, smiling. “But if it means people are engaging with the news more, even through memes, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”

And perhaps that’s the real takeaway: in a time when trust in media is fractured and attention spans are short, someone like David Muir going viral — even for something as unserious as a thirst edit — might not be the worst headline.

After all, it’s not every day a nightly news anchor becomes the subject of fan blogs, TikTok montages, and internet devotionals