Just after ABC announced that Joan Vassos was the first Golden Bachelorette, Susan Lucci revealed she was approached by the network for the gig.
The All My Children told PEOPLE she recently became a Bachelor fan and was considered for season 1 of The Golden Bachelorette. However, she ended up declining ABC’s offer.
“I believe that they contacted my publicist and it wasn’t for me,” Susan Lucci said about The Golden Bachelorette. “I watched The Golden Bachelor [and] I really enjoyed watching The Golden Bachelor. This is a new addiction for me.”
Lucci also said that she started getting into the Bachelor franchise just a few seasons ago. She was told by her assistant to give the series a chance. She also said that the Bachelor franchise is now her “new guilty pleasure.”
“My assistant told me she was going home to watch The Bachelor with her daughters,” Lucci recounted. “She said, ‘Well, it’s really good.’ I watched it. The first time I watched it was that night a couple seasons ago. I was immediately engaged. I cared [and] I wanted to know more about these people.”
Susan Lucci continued to speak about The Golden Bachelorette offer. “I didn’t pursue [it] when they called my publicist to see if I would be interested,” she then noted. “It wasn’t for me, but I do love watching. I’m a fan. I love watching.”
Although ABC and Warner Bros. didn’t comment about Susan Lucci’s claims, a source told PEOPLE that the former soap opera actress was not offered The Golden Bachelorette role.
Joan Vassos Reveals She Said ‘Yes’ to Becoming ‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Because She Wants Love
Although things didn’t work for Susan Lucci in terms of The Golden Bachelorette, Joan Vassos says she’s ready to star in the show’s first season.
During an appearance on the Bachelor Happy Hour: Golden Hour, Vassos spoke about why she accepted the offer from ABC.
“I really want love,” Vassos said. She also said she wants someone to have in her life. “I feel like life is better when you share it with somebody. I truly believe all of that.”
Vassos does admit it’s taking some time to get he mindset ready for the show. “As far as my heart being completely open, I think it’s nine-tenths of the way there,” she pointed out.
“So, I think I just need to spend a little more time in like an environment like The Bachelor environment. I so am not… like I really want to find love. I just don’t want to go to the work of going on a dating website.”