David Muir, the stoic anchor of ABC World News Tonight, stunned fans on September 16, 2025, with a rare, heartfelt Instagram post alongside Live with Kelly and Mark host Kelly Ripa, revealing a vulnerability that left viewers gasping. Known for his reserved demeanor and rare social media shares, Muir’s caption—”Kelly, you’ve always brought joy to my mornings; today, you made history. So proud of you”—accompanied a candid photo of the duo laughing at a charity gala. Fans flooded the comments, one writing, “This is the first time I’ve seen David so normal—he’s human after all!” The post, amassing 1.2 million likes in hours, shattered Muir’s polished image, showing a genuine bond forged over years of Good Morning America crossovers.

The duo’s friendship, sparked at a 2015 ABC retreat, has been a quiet Hollywood gem, with Ripa often teasing Muir’s “secret soft side” on her show. But what catapulted the post to viral stardom was Ripa’s immediate follow-up announcement: she’s launching Ripa & Co., a production company with a $100 million Netflix deal to develop female-led dramas, her first major venture post-Live. “David’s my rock—he pushed me to do this,” Ripa gushed in a Variety interview, crediting Muir’s encouragement amid her career pivot. The news, teased in Muir’s post with a cryptic “Big things coming,” sent Hollywood into a frenzy, with Netflix execs hailing it as “the next Shondaland.”

X lit up (#MuirRipaMagic), fans swooning over Muir’s “unexpected heart” and Ripa’s bold leap, one tweeting, “David’s post unlocked Kelly’s empire—iconic!” Critics speculate the duo’s chemistry could spawn a joint project, perhaps a news-satire series. Muir, single and private, rarely opens up, but this glimpse into his mentorship with Ripa humanizes the anchor, who rose from 20/20 to ABC’s face. Ripa’s announcement, backed by A-list backers like Shonda Rhimes, promises groundbreaking stories of women in power. Was Muir’s post a subtle nudge, or pure friendship? As Netflix buzzes, this “normal” moment proves vulnerability wins hearts.