All the times David Muir has been accused of being ‘vain’ as he addresses ‘daddy status’

David Muir has become one of the most recognizable faces on ABC over the past decade, and in that time, he has fallen victim to his fair share of ‘daddy’ accusations

David Muir has been called vain several times during his career

It’s no secret, David ‘Daddy’ Muir has a soft spot … for himself, and in light of him recently addressing those “internet daddy” allegations, we have decided to look back at all the times he has been called “vain” by viewers.

The 51-year-old hunk joined the ABC network’s news team in 2003 as anchor of the overnight news program World News Now. He has since made his way up the ranks to become the host of the country’s top-rated primetime news show, World News Tonight with David Muir, and it appears he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

Aside from giving his thousands of followers an occasional insight into his private life, David also takes his fans with him as he embarks on lavish world travels, as he gets down and dirty reporting on hard-hitting news stories.

But as fans will know by now, the TV icon is partial to wearing the teeniest top or even altering his attire to show off his incredible physique while reporting on these stories, much to viewers’ dismay.

David has been dubbed an ‘internet daddy’ by fans

Los Angeles wildfires: Clothes peg gate

At the beginning of the year, the ABC anchor headed to Los Angeles to report on the devastating wildfires that were wreaking havoc across the Pacific Palisades.

During the report, which was being aired live on air, David stood in front of rubble, with thick smoke lingering in the air. He was certainly dressed to the occasion, rocking a yellow ABC-themed fire-resistant jacket as he updated viewers on the dire situation.

All appeared normal until David turned around, revealing he had used several large wooden pegs to cinch his jacket in

“As you can see here behind me,” he said, gesturing behind him while the clamps could be seen on the back of his jacket.

David Muir reporting on the LA wildfires

Fans were quick to blast David and “pathetic” and “narcissistic” for doing so – but others pointed out that this could be a common TV trick.

According to the New York Post, using clothes pegs to cinch clothes is a standard style practice in TV broadcasts.

Texas floods: ‘Teeny-tiny t-shirt’

The 51-year-old swapped the studio for the chilling scenes in Texas, as people there continued to search for survivors in the aftermath of the flash floods that had wreaked havoc through the southern state and claimed the lives of many.

Aside from a change of scenery, David also had a change of attire. Instead of donning his usual clean-cut blazer, tie, and button-up shirt, he wore an extremely fitted black tee—a choice that has sent fans into a tizzy.

Under a video shared of the ABC segment to Instagram, fans were quick to swoon over David’s huge muscles that were very visible thanks to his extra-fitted tee.

David reporting on the Teas flash floors in a fitted black t-shirt(Image: ABC)

However, not everyone was gushing ove the ABC hunk’s choice of outfit. During her SirusXM show, Megyn Kelly set off on a furious rant over it.

“He has for the look at this for the past two nights, two nights in a row, is wearing his teeny, tiny black T shirt, super high cut on the bicep, so you can see his muscles and the teeny, tiny waist down below,” she went on to point out.

“And I will tell you something, we look at this, it’s when you zoom out a little bit. You can see the shirt has a little flare below the middle. That’s not how T-shirts work. Men’s T-shirts. T-shirts do not cut in the middle and then flare down below,” Kelly added, seemingly hinting that David had altered his outfit to look more fitted.

In the caption of her post, Megyn dubbed the scene as David’s “latest vanity moment in Texas.”

Israel report: ‘Bulging bicep’

Back in 2023, David jetted to Israel to report on the war involving Hamas in Gaza. In true David fashion, he delivered his report from the front lines in one of his signature tight black T-shirts. David’s look was complete with a black helmet, a bulletproof vest, and dark-colored jeans.

He shared a smoldering snap from his trip with his Instagram followers, with the caption, “Be’eri, Israel w @karamea @estherdcastillejo @southernmunro @bruno1960 – we will never forget what we saw – and we must keep telling their stories.”

It certainly didn’t take long for fans to share their thoughts. One user asked, “Vain much?” as another said, “This pic is pure comedy. The serious face paired with the bulging bicep. Let’s call it Blue Steel. What a damn joke!”

A third follower chimed in, “What a complete [clown emoji],” as another joked, “Make up and a helmet go well together.”

Not everyone was ripping into the reporter, some people were gushing over David’s good looks. One person pointed out, “Wow! Look at those guns!” as a second asked, “Damn why he kinda..”

‘Internet Daddy’ accusations

Thanks to his impressive physique and dashing looks, many fans have made “thirst traps” of him online and David has made no secret of addressing the internet swooning over him.

In a new interview with People, David admitted that while he is confused, he is flattered by being considered a “daddy.”

“People will forward TikTok videos, but only because they are laughing out loud at them and making fun of me and saying, ‘When did you become Daddy?’” he explained, adding, “I don’t know whether that happens when you hit 50 or what, but I’ll take it as a compliment, I think.”

While David said that he doesn’t see his own daddiness, he joked that “the fact that I survive those events is still a surprise to me without looking like a total nerd.”

“So maybe it’s lost on me, but I guess Daddy’s better than the alternative,” he concluded.