America’s most popular news anchor David Muir let his mask of humility slip in dramatic fashion at an event in New York City Monday night.
Muir, 52, couldn’t resist a startling brag about impressing a very important boss while hosting a conversation with higher education expert Jeff Selingo at Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y.
The mahogany-tan ABC World News Tonight anchor recalled starting at the network in 2003 and battling a ‘certain culture’ filled with status-obsessed colleagues in the Big Apple.
‘You know, when I arrived, and all those questions about “Where did you go, what did your parents do?”‘ Muir recalled.
Launching into a seemingly modest and inspirational anecdote, the Ithaca College graduate said his strategy had been ‘to keep my head down and do the work.’
Muir said the tactic quickly paid off.
‘I remember the CEO at the time was asked, you know, about, you know, who are the young journalists that he’s watching right now?’ Muir said. ‘And he mentioned me. And I was honored by that.’
Unable to help himself, he added: ‘And then I realized the CEO of Disney is Bob Iger, who went to Ithaca College.’
‘Kind of fun,’ Muir remarked, after casually dropping the name of one of the most powerful men in entertainment, who remains CEO of ABC parent company Disney.
David Muir, 52, offered some rare insight into his early years at the 92nd Street Y on Monday night during an event surrounding college admissions
I remember the CEO at the time was asked, you know, about, you know, who are the young journalists that he’s watching right now? And he mentioned me. And I was honored by that. And then I realized the CEO of Disney is Bob Iger, who went to Ithaca College,’ Muir said
‘So it’s really just a therapy session for all of the parents out there, that you don’t have to get into the Ivy Leagues or the elite schools.
‘We did pretty darn well at Ithaca College,’ Muir added while seamlessly switching back to hardworking boy-done-good mode, during a conversation centered around college admissions.
Iger’s instincts about Muir ultimately proved to be spot-on.Ā
Muir started his career in local TV and steadily climbed the ranks at ABC News, where he is now the network’s top star.
He has hosted ABC World News Tonight, America’s top-rated nightly news show, since 2014 and is believed to earn an eight-figure salary.
Muir’s sense of his own importance was visibly on display Monday. The talk he hosted ended, right as scheduled, at 8pm.
As parents and teens gathered in the lobby with hopes of perhaps meeting the star, Muir was whisked away out of a side door without stopping.
Seen eagerly waiting for a car in a shielded area created by the 92nd Street Y’s ongoing construction, the famously private primetime anchor was flanked by hulking security staff and multiple members of his team.
One ABC staffer could even be heard complaining that Muir’s car had yet to arrive.
The group made a mad dash to the SUV when it did pull in, as patrons just started to trickle out.
A female audience member later expressed surprise to the Daily Mail that Muir made no effort to acknowledge waiting fans excited to see him.
Selingo was not with the group, despite being revealed as Muir’s old college roommate early on at the event.
Muir is seen on ABC News in 2003, the year he joined the network. Muir revealed how he’d made a big impression on network boss Bob Iger shortly afterwards
Muir has reigned as the king of nightly news for nine years, after succeeding former World News Tonight Host Diane Sawyer in 2014
Their conversation lasted less than an hour, with Muir taking only a few of the audience’s questions.
The anecdote about Iger was offered after one of the questions. The event cost $50 to attend.
‘I can’t believe it’s taken this long to be a part of this,’ Muir said when taking the stage.
He joined ABC in 2003 and succeeded Diane Sawyer on World News Tonight in 2014.
Iger was named president of Disney and chairman of ABC in 1999, after serving as president and COO of ABC for several years.
He replaced Michael Eisner as Disney CEO in 2005 and returned to Disney as CEO in 2022, following a brief retirement.
Iger is set to retire for the second time next year, after his previous exit saw successor Bob Chapek booted from the job at the behest of Iger himself.
This past May, both Muir and Iger took the stage at Ithaca Colle’s Commencement ceremony, where Iger received a Doctor of Letters degree from Muir during the ceremony.
Iger thanked his ‘dear friend and colleague’ Muir, calling it a full-circle moment.
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