From Politics to Pure Family Happiness: “Nana Joy” Moment Goes Viral as Fans Fall in Love All Over Again
NEW YORK – November 19, 2025 – The View’s Hot Topics table turned into pure joy on Tuesday when Joy Behar, 83, was surprised live on air with the news that she had officially become a grandmother. What began as a typical segment about family milestones quickly dissolved into tears, laughter, and one of the most heartwarming moments in the show’s 28-year history. “I’m a nana!” Joy shouted, her trademark New York rasp cracking as co-host Whoopi Goldberg leapt from her chair to envelop her in a bear hug that lasted a full thirty seconds. The studio audience erupted, confetti cannons fired, and millions watching at home reached for tissues as “Nana Joy” trended worldwide within minutes.
The surprise was orchestrated by Joy’s only child, daughter Eve Behar, 54, who appeared via satellite from her Los Angeles home cradling newborn Luca James Scotti (Joy’s first grandchild with son-in-law Alphonso Anthony Scotti). Eve had kept the birth secret for two days earlier to deliver the news live on air. “Mom, meet your grandson,” Eve said softly, holding the sleeping baby toward the camera. Joy’s hands flew to her face, eyes instantly filling. “Oh my God… he’s gorgeous… I can’t breathe!” she gasped, prompting Sunny Hostin to fan her with a script while Sara Haines and Alyssa Farah Griffin wiped away tears. Ana Navarro, off-camera, could be heard yelling, “Somebody get this woman a cigar and a martini — she’s a grandma!”
Whoopi, fighting her own tears, grabbed Joy in the now-iconic hug, whispering, “Welcome to the best club in the world.” The embrace (longer and tighter than any in recent View memory) became an instant GIF, racking up 12 million loops in six hours. Even typically stoic stage managers were spotted dabbing their eyes.
Joy, who has spent decades dishing sharp political commentary and quick-witted one-liners, let her guard down completely. “I’ve waited my whole life for this,” she said, voice breaking. “All the fights, all the noise… none of it matters now. I’m Nana Joy!” The audience gave a standing ovation as balloons dropped and the panel presented a custom gifts: a tiny director’s chair embroidered “Nana Joy” from Whoopi, a silver rattle from Sunny, and a onesie reading “My Grandma Roasts Better Than Yours” from Alyssa.
Fans flooded social media with love. #NanaJoy trended No. 1 globally, surpassing even election news cycles, with 3.8 million posts in 24 hours. “From telling Trump off to holding her grandbaby — Joy Behar is living her best life,” one viral tweet read. Another: “Whoopi’s hug healed something in all of us.” The clip has already surpassed 22 million views across platforms, with viewers calling it “the purest 4 minutes of television this year.”
Eve later told People that the surprise was months in the making. “Mom always says family is everything on air, but she had no idea how true that would feel today.” Alphonso, a physician, added, “Joy’s been sending baby books for months. Now she gets to read them in person.”
Back in the studio, Joy ended the segment with classic humor through happy tears: “I’ve argued with presidents, senators, and Meghan McCain — but nothing prepared me for this level of love.” As the show cut to commercial, cameras caught her whispering to the monitor, “Hi Luca… Nana’s here.”
From politics to pure family happiness, Joy Behar reminded everyone why she’s irreplaceable. The View has given us debates, drama, and division — but today, it gave us love. And the world is smiling with Nana Joy.
