The red chair is finally occupied again. After a multi-episode absence that left fans questioning the status of their favorite co-hosts, Joy Behar made her return to The View on Tuesday. The 83-year-old brought more than her trademark wit back to the ABC panel; she also brought a reveal about her identity that most viewers never saw coming.
Speculation regarding Behar’s health had been mounting after she missed six consecutive broadcasts starting in late January. While she traditionally takes Mondays off, her continued absence throughout the week sparked concern. Last week, moderator Whoopi Goldberg, 70, addressed Behar’s empty seat.
“We want to let you know Joy is out, she’s not feeling well, so we want her to feel better and get her behind back here,” Goldberg told the audience. Behar’s medical history has been a topic of conversation before, notably last autumn when she missed four episodes after a household mishap. “I dropped my iPad on my foot and I broke my toe,” she shared at the time.
Back in her usual spot for the Hot Topics segment, the conversation turned to co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin’s journey toward motherhood. Goldberg mentioned a rumor that an audience member was planning to name their newborn after Behar.
“I heard that too, as a middle name,” Behar joked, before dropping the bombshell that her famous moniker isn’t on her birth certificate. “My real name is Josephine Victoria, but my grandfather called me Joy, my Italian grandfather.”
The comedian explained that the nickname took hold before she could even walk. “From infancy, I was always known as Joy — as a middle name, I think it’s a really good choice,” she added. Despite being one of the most recognizable faces on daytime television for decades, the Josephine Victoria revelation was a fresh twist for her audience.
Living with a name that doubles as a common emotion has its perks and its pitfalls, according to the Emmy winner. Behar noted that the linguistic nature of her name often leads to seasonal mix-ups.
“You have to know that Joy is a noun, so it always comes up in Christmas and all sorts of ways — just remember that — it’s confusing sometimes,” she told her co-hosts. In her signature style, she couldn’t resist a bit of humor regarding the holiday season, joking that she often assumes the classic carol Joy To The World was written specifically in her honor.
After a week of Goldberg and the rest of the crew holding down the fort, the return of the woman formerly known as Josephine Victoria brings the panel back together.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.