David Muir fans complain staff ‘took the day off’ after disappointing World News Tonight episode

Fans weren’t thrilled with David Muir’s work Monday on World News Tonight. They criticized the show harshly online, expressing concern with their coverage of current events

David Muir’s show received some criticism(Image: ABC via Getty Images)

World News Tonight didn’t feel very topical to fans who quickly griped about Monday’s episode ahead of the host’s network anniversary.

During the David Muir–hosted show, the anchor covered a range of issues. However, most of them were old news, as noticed by one fan on X, formerly known as Twitter. They wrote, “Did everybody at ‘World News Tonight’ take the day off today? 90% of the show is yesterday’s news.”

“No one cares about abc,” another fan said. A third fan expressed criticism over their in attention to Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who was killed in an air strike by Israel while covering the events unfolding in Gaza, which include barriers to humanitarian aid. They wrote, “[thumbs down emoji] coverage of your fellow journalists’ murder. We know how Israel justifies all war crimes.”

The journalist, according to Al Jazeera, was killed alongside four of his colleagues during an air strike while sheltering in a media tent. The news organization called his death “deliberate,” pointing fingers at Israel forces. Prior to the operation, at least five journalists from Al Jazeera were killed amid the attacks on Gaza. The outlet said, “Israel has killed nearly 270 journalists and media workers since it launched its war on Gaza.”

The journalist’s coverage seemed out of date to viewers(Image: Getty Images)

In a final statement on X, Anas wrote, “This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings.

“Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and streets of the Jabalia refugee camp. My hope was that Allah would extend my life so I could return with my family and loved ones to our original town of occupied Asqalan (Al-Majdal).

He was criticized for lacking coverage on a death of a Palestinian journalist(Image: ABC)

“But Allah’s will came first, and His decree is final. I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification—so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half.”

David’s reporting has become a staple on ABC as he approaches 11 years of the show. ABC announced in a press release that David’s show is the most-watched newscast for the past nine years, increasing its margin with the runner up. The show is “leading NBC by largest margin in 30 years and CBS in four years, and is the #1 newscast in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for the sixth season in a row.”