ABC Erases Barbara Walters’ Name from Headquarters

Barbara Walters may have broken barriers in journalism, but ABC just broke her legacy — at least in the lobby.

A decade after proudly naming its Upper West Side headquarters the Barbara Walters Building, complete with a plaque honoring the legendary broadcaster, ABC has quietly removed her name in its move downtown. The new headquarters now bears a different moniker — the Robert A. Iger Building, in tribute to Disney’s CEO.

“It’s like she never existed,” one longtime staffer told Straight Shuter, blasting the swap as replacing “a journalism icon with a corporate boss.”

Inside ABC, the decision has fueled frustration and whispers of betrayal. “Barbara built this place,” another insider fumed. “She asked the tough questions – and now we’re just supposed to forget her?”

Executives have framed the change as part of a modernization push, but critics see it as erasing history. Walters’ iconic career — from shattering glass ceilings to commanding primetime interviews — made her a trailblazer in broadcast journalism, and many staffers say the network’s move sends the wrong message.

For now, Walters’ plaque reportedly sits boxed up in the new building, waiting for execs to decide its fate. As one former producer put it: “Barbara gave them her name. Now they’ve given it back, without even saying thank you.”