Apple CEO Turns Heads at Emmys, A-Listers Clamor for New iPhone Duo

The enigmatic new leader of Apple, John Ternus, made a splash at the Emmys on Monday evening, showcasing the yet-to-be-released, foldable iPhone Duo to a captivated audience.

Video clips captured Ternus on the red carpet, proudly displaying the soon-to-launch $1,999 gadget, drawing gasps and applause. However, reports suggest that even prior to the event at the Peacock Theater, celebrities were quietly approaching him in Los Angeles, eager to get their hands on the new phone.

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The night before the Emmys, Ternus was at a private Apple gathering attended by celebrities and influential figures, where a few forward ones directly requested the phone from him.

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“This new phone is quite the buzz,” remarked a prominent Hollywood executive, noting that they knew of at least one celebrity who had asked Ternus to “put him on the list” for the phone. The executive humorously compared the situation to an elite club, saying, “It’s like CEOs. It’s like the ‘Eddy Cue list of illuminati.’” [Cue is Apple’s senior vice president of services and health.]

Another insider shared details about the exclusive gathering on Sunday, describing it as a “small but filled with talent” event where Ternus mingled with “actors and other creative professionals.”

The following evening, during an interview on the red carpet with Deadline, Ternus casually pulled out the iPhone Duo from his tuxedo pocket, much to the excitement of an ecstatic reporter, sparking a flurry of online commentary about the device.

When Ternus first took over as CEO from the departing Tim Cook two weeks earlier, Hollywood insiders were perplexed. Page Six Hollywood reported that the tech executive was virtually an unknown in entertainment circles, causing some unease about his plans for Apple’s streaming ventures, Apple TV, and Apple Studios. “No one knows him,” one entertainment CEO commented at the time.

Cook had been a regular at premieres and events, and had launched Apple TV in 2019 alongside stars like Jennifer Aniston and Steven Spielberg.

However, based on Apple’s record-breaking success at the Primetime Emmys, where the company secured an impressive 28 awards, it seems Ternus has quickly taken to the television scene. “There’s no way he spent all this time in LA and didn’t find it worthwhile,” observed a TV industry veteran who saw Ternus at the event.

Following their historic Emmy performance, “Apple’s party was the place to be,” according to a partygoer.

The event at Nya Studios saw attendance from Apple stars like Jon Hamm and Matthew Rhys, along with Michael J. Fox, “SNL” comedian Marcello Hernández, and Stephen Colbert.

Although Ternus was present, an insider described him as “not really a party person, more reserved and just taking it all in.”

“He seems to really enjoy the TV business,” another source explained. “Not that Tim Cook didn’t, but the enthusiasm is palpable. Consider their nomination to win ratio. It’s phenomenal. All their shows are high-quality.” (Ternus’ Apple team was visibly celebrating in the audience as well.)

Apple submitted 31 shows for Emmy consideration, outperforming Netflix’s 125 and HBO’s 86 submissions, marking a historic win over both rivals since the launch of Apple TV in 2019. Apple entered the night with 19 wins from the previous two Emmy nights and added more victories for shows like “Widow’s Bay,” “Slow Horses,” and “Pluribus.”

The identity of Apple as a streaming provider remains elusive to industry insiders. “It’s challenging,” one source stated regarding pitching to the studio. “I don’t think even Apple would claim they have a set approach. And the scary part is they don’t need to rely on TV. It’s just a minor detail for them.”

With Apple’s “The Studio” and “Severance” making returns, and “Widow’s Bay” continuing, Ternus might be seen flaunting his tech innovations on the red carpet again next year.

“They’ve found their rhythm and are impressively creative,” commented an insider. “They’re likely to continue winning for a few more years.”

Insiders said that Apple TV’s head of programming Matt Cherniss and streaming executives Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg played significant roles in the company’s success.