David Muir finally BREAKS SILENCE on viral ‘DADDY’ label — what ABC’s golden anchor just admitted on live mic leaves fans BLUSHING and wondering what emotion he’s really hiding behind the suit

David Muir is known for commanding the airwaves with authority and grace, but fans have taken a different kind of notice—referring to the “World News Tonight” anchor as a full-blown heartthrob. When asked about his growing ‘daddy’ status, Muir didn’t deny it. In fact, his coy smile and unexpected quip, which have only fueled the frenzy. How is America’s most trusted journalist embracing his unexpected title?

Curious how he really feels behind the scenes? You might be surprised—click to uncover the full story now.

David Muir at the Time 100 Gala in New York.Credit: Adela Loconte/WWD via Getty

David Muir is the most-watched news anchor in the country, has been the face of ABC’s flagship World News Tonight for more than a decade, and was recently named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time. Now he’s tackling the most important question of his career.

How does it feel to reach “daddy” status among his fans?

In a new PEOPLE interview, the veteran journalist admitted that he’s confused but flattered by the honor.

“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?’” said Muir, 51. “I don’t know whether that happens when you hit 50 or what, but I’ll take it as a compliment, I think.”

David Muir at the ‘Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story’ premiere in New York.Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Those TikToks are the lovingly crafted thirst edits put together by Muir’s fans; the celebrated news anchor even has a fan-dedicated blog on Tumblr called Gimme Gimme Muir, which boasts that followers can find “all things Muir.”

Muir said he doesn’t see his own daddiness, adding 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 quipped.

Muir got his start working at local news stations in Syracuse and Boston after graduating from Ithaca College. He joined ABC News in 2003 as an anchor of World News Now. The decorated journalist has remained with the network ever since, and worked his way up the ranks before succeeding his friend and mentor Diane Sawyer (who penned his Time 100 blurb) on World News Tonight in September 2014.

“I think it’s really important to continue to try being better,” Muir told PEOPLE when asked about his next move. “The moment you stop learning, the moment you’re no longer curious, the moment you don’t believe you can be better than you were a night ago or a week ago, is probably a time to sort of check yourself.”

He added, “I still feel like I’m that kid racing into that local newsroom all those years ago. I love this job. I love the people that I interview and get to meet, and I think that journalism is more important than ever.”