Joy Behar has stunned viewers after revealing that “Joy” is not actually her birth name during a live episode of The View, leaving fans surprised by the unexpected personal confession.
The 83-year-old TV personality, best known as a long-running co-host of the ABC talk show, explained that she has always been called Joy on screen and in public.
The revelation came during a light-hearted discussion after co-host Whoopi Goldberg mentioned a viewer planning to name a baby after her, joking about the meaning and use of the word “Joy”.
Behar then clarified that her real name is Josephine Victoria, revealing that “Joy” was originally a childhood nickname given to her by her Italian grandfather.
She explained that the name stuck from infancy and eventually became the identity she is known by today.
“My real name is Josephine Victoria, but my grandfather called me Joy,” she said on air.
She added that she believes “Joy” works well as a middle-style name and has been part of her identity for most of her life.
The episode also marked her return to The View after a brief absence, with co-hosts previously confirming she had been away due to feeling unwell, although details were not disclosed.
Behar first joined The View in 1997 when the show launched, becoming one of its most recognisable and long-standing personalities.
She briefly left the programme in 2013 after her contract was not renewed, later admitting she felt ready for a break before returning in 2015 and remaining a core part of the show ever since.
