Kiwi News Anchor Ryan Bridge Amused by Viral TikTok Fame Following Earthquake Broadcast
Auckland, New Zealand – New Zealand news anchor Ryan Bridge is responding wiht humor to a surge in online attention after a clip of his calm and collected reporting during a recent earthquake went viral on TikTok, sparking a wave of adoration from users worldwide. the clip, initially broadcast on Newshub, has been widely shared and remixed, with many commenters expressing attraction to the journalist.
Bridge, 36, acknowledged the online buzz, stating he’d been informed of the reactions by friends and colleagues, despite not personally monitoring the comments. “The thing with internet comments is sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re bad. So it’s best to take it all with a grain of salt,” he told the New Zealand Herald. He addressed the outpouring of attention, especially from “all the American ladies,” with a lighthearted message: “It’s never going to happen. But I have zero issues with being objectified.”
The viral moment has also led to comparisons between Bridge and actor Daniel Gillies, known for his role as Elijah Mikaelson in the Vampire Diaries and The Originals. Numerous TikTok users pointed out the resemblance, with one commenter writing, “he looks like the original brother in Vampire Diaries,” and another joking, “Elijah, what are you doing here??!!” Gillies, 49, himself grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand, before pursuing an acting career in Hollywood.
While Bridge doesn’t see the comparison, he responded to the attention with self-deprecating humor, saying, “I’m flattered, but that guy is way hotter.” Despite his newfound online fame, Bridge has stated he has no current plans to return to live in New Zealand, though he expressed fondness for his home country, noting, “I think New Zealand is one of those places you grow fonder of the more time that goes by that you’re away from it.”