Megyn Kelly has claimed ABC News anchor David Muir disrupted the red carpet at the prestigious Time 100 Gala.
The anchor accused him of skipping a long line of A-list attendees who were waiting for their photo-op at the star-studded event.
‘As we’re waiting in line, getting closer to our turn to go on, they suddenly pause the procession… because some big names are approaching from the right,’ she recounted. ‘I was wondering, is it Tom Cruise? Who could it be?’ And then I see it’s David Muir!’
Kelly mentioned, ‘We were all expecting some major A-list celebrities to show up. And then we’re like, ‘David Muir?!’ It’s almost embarrassing that he would pull such a move.’
‘It was an absurdity by him. Honestly, he should have been embarrassed,’ she seethed.
‘Everybody was expecting some truly A-list talent to come in there. And we were all like, David Muir?! You got to be kidding me.’
This heated critique adds to the ongoing controversies surrounding Muir, 51, who is already entangled in a longstanding rivalry with George Stephanopoulos.
Insiders at the network describe it as a battle for dominance within the network. The red carpet kerfuffle, while appearing trivial on the face of it, quickly gained traction in media circles.
Kelly, known for her confrontational style, did not mince words in characterizing Muir’s behavior as inappropriate and emblematic of his ego.
‘Honestly, he should have been embarrassed,’ she said.
Neither Muir nor ABC News has responded to the claims.
A source close to the event defended Muir on Friday night, telling DailyMail.com: ‘There were two red carpet entrances – one for photos only and one for TV interviews. Time directed David to the photo entrance, and he did what they asked.’
Another inside source joked: ‘Oh, poor Megyn. She had to wait to get her photo taken.’
Kelly’s comments come amid renewed attention to Muir’s rise at ABC News and the internal shake-ups that have accompanied it.
As reported in March by journalist Oliver Darcy, Muir has effectively supplanted Stephanopoulos as the face of the network.
‘David won,’ Darcy said on the Welcome to MAGAland podcast.
‘There’s a reason George Stephanopoulos does not play a role in the larger ABC News political coverage anymore.’
The rivalry reportedly dates back to 2014, when Muir succeeded Diane Sawyer as anchor of World News Tonight.
Though Stephanopoulos retained the title of ‘Chief Anchor,’ Muir was handed the coveted responsibilities of leading breaking news and political event coverage – sparking outrage from the more senior Stephanopoulos, who allegedly threatened to quit.
That drama peaked in 2021, when then-Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly flew to New York to mediate.
While the feud never spilled fully into public view, insiders say it has never truly cooled.
Darcy likened the situation to a ‘détente,’ saying, ‘It’s not like an active feud… but there’s not much love lost between those camps.’
The latest symbol of that divide emerged last month when David Muir was named to Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, complete with a glowing tribute from Diane Sawyer. Stephanopoulos was conspicuously left off the list.
‘Everyone at ABC News is proud of David’s recognition,’ a network spokesperson insisted, dismissing feud talk as a ‘tired narrative.’
But the tension was hard to ignore during Good Morning America’s on-air congratulation segment.
‘David Muir! Our own David Muir,’ co-host Robin Roberts cheered. Stephanopoulos followed with a subdued, ‘Congratulations to David and all the nominees.’
Behind the scenes, sources say Muir’s stock continues to soar. His World News Tonight consistently leads in national ratings, drawing more than 8 million viewers a night far outpacing competitors NBC and CBS.
Insiders say his salary now exceeds eight figures, although ABC has not confirmed details.
Meanwhile, Stephanopoulos retains his morning role on GMA and his Sunday show This Week, and launched a production company backed by Disney.
But according to Darcy, Muir is now ‘ABC’s main star,’ and any suggestion otherwise is ‘laughable.’
‘[George] still has his own real estate,’ Darcy added. ‘But there’s certainly a feud… and I think if anyone’s denying it, that’s just kind of embarrassing.’
To many in media circles, Kelly’s viral criticism is emblematic of a broader evolution in network news – where anchors are increasingly treated (and treat themselves) like celebrities.
The sight of Muir bypassing a red carpet line, in Kelly’s telling, underscores that transformation.
‘It was an ‘F U b*****s’ moment,’ she said of her own attendance – a subtle dig at former NBC colleagues – before noting how the moment soured when Muir made his entrance. ‘It was just kind of nice from that standpoint… until that happened.’
Muir’s reputation as a ratings juggernaut and steady hand has secured his place atop the ABC hierarchy at least for now.
Stephanopoulos remains a force at the network, even if his influence has waned. ‘He’s doing great,’ Darcy said. ‘But he’s very much below Muir in the pecking order.’
