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Don’t expect to see Susan Lucci handing out roses anytime soon.
The 77-year-old All My Children alum says ABC contacted her about potentially becoming the very first star of The Golden Bachelorette but that she turned down the opportunity.
“I believe that they contacted my publicist and it wasn’t for me,” Lucci told PEOPLE.
But, she added, “I really enjoyed watching The Golden Bachelor. This is a new addiction for me.”
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The newfound fan of the reality dating series explained that she chose not to “pursue” the gig despite the network calling her rep to “see if I was interested.”
“It wasn’t for me,” she said, “but I do love watching.”
Despite Lucci’s claims, Entertainment Weekly has learned that she was not in the running for the role. A representative for Lucci did not immediately respond to EW’s request for clarification.
Earlier this month, ABC announced that Golden Bachelor contestant Joan Vassos would embark on her own journey to find love as the Golden Bachelorette.
The 60-year-old private school administrator quickly became a fan favorite during Gerry Turner‘s season, but she had to depart early because her daughter was suffering from postpartum issues after giving birth.
“I don’t want to leave our journey,” she told Gerry at the time, “but I’ve got to be a parent.”
While ABC has yet to announce a premiere date for The Golden Bachelorette, it has confirmed that the series will include 90-minute episodes that will air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
