Joy Behar Says ‘The View’ Rejected Lauren Sanchez After She Auditioned To Be A Host Twice: “I Don’t Think You Needed That Job”

Lauren Sanchez might have been rejected from hosting The View twice, but things seemed to have worked out for her regardless. After all, she is engaged to Jeff Bezos, who is the second richest man on planet Earth.

Sanchez appeared on this morning’s episode of The View to promote her new children’s book The Fly Who Flew to Space. But when the award-winning journalist joined the co-hosts at the Hot Topics table, she admitted that she was “a little nervous” to be on the show.

“My hand was shaking back there and my sister looked at me and she goes, ‘You’re not auditioning this time. You’re a guest,'” she said, referring to her previous auditions to be a co-host (one of which was alongside Sunny Hostin).

Joy Behar then filled the audience in on Sanchez’s connection to The View, explaining, “Lauren auditioned for this show twice and the powers that be decided, ‘No, you’re not getting the job.’ But look at you now! I don’t think that you needed the job.”

Sanchez, who had appeared on The View as a guest host more than two decades ago, recalled the “incredible” piece of advice the late Barbara Walters gave her at the time.

“One time —  I actually saw the clip, I couldn’t believe it — they pulled my hair back, they made me dress a little more conservative,” she said. “And after the show, Barbara Walters pulled me aside and she goes, ‘What are you doing?’ And I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ And she goes, ‘If you’re gonna go down, go down as yourself. Because if you don’t go down as yourself, you’re gonna beat yourself up twice.’”

She also remembered Behar once telling her, “Keep your head up, kid,” when she was having a “tough” day on set.

Looking back, Sanchez noted that her son wouldn’t have been born if she had gotten the job. “Everything happens for a reason,” she added.

Behar wrapped up the interview by telling their guest, “It’s so great that everything has worked out well for you so we don’t have to feel guilty that you’re not on the show.”

The View airs on weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.