Goldberg reveals she spread her mom’s ashes at Disneyland by faking a sneeze.
During a July 10 appearance on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” Whoopi Goldberg candidly revealed an unusual way she honored her late mother, Emma Harris.
Goldberg, 68, who is known for her role as co-host on “The View,” shared that she spread her mother’s ashes at Disneyland in a rather unconventional manner.
Goldberg’s mother passed away on August 29, 2010. To honor her memory, Goldberg decided to take her mother to one of her favorite places: Disneyland.
“My mother loved Disneyland, and so we took her to Disneyland,” Goldberg said during the interview. She also emphasized that she doesn’t recommend others follow her example, prompting laughter from the audience.
Goldberg explained that her mother had a special connection with Disneyland, particularly with the “It’s a Small World” ride.
She reminisced about how the World’s Fair introduced the ride, and her mother’s love for it since then. To fulfill her mother’s wish, Goldberg devised a plan to spread her ashes at the theme park.
She shared her method with the audience, saying she would “scoop some of her up” and fake a big sneeze to discreetly release the ashes.
Goldberg confessed to using this technique to spread the ashes near the flowers where the sign “Disneyland” is located. She admitted to the show’s host, Seth Meyers, that she later told Disneyland officials about her actions.
Goldberg expressed some concern about the safety of her actions, explaining she wanted to ensure she hadn’t done anything dangerous.
“I wanted to make sure, actually, that I hadn’t done something that was dangerous ’cause it hadn’t occurred to me. But there’s a reason they don’t want ashes just floatin’ around,” she said.
During a December episode of “The View,” Goldberg revealed that she and her brother had always dreamed of going to Disneyland as children, but their mother could never afford the tickets.
“I took her,” Goldberg said, recalling her first visit in the early ’80s. Her mother had always promised to take her and her brother Clyde, but financial constraints made it impossible.
Goldberg also shared fond memories of her mother’s teachings. In a conversation with PEOPLE in May, she talked about how her mother taught her to interact respectfully with adults from a young age.
“If I needed information, I was to ask somebody, explain why I was asking, and do all the things that I would do with her when she was not there,” she said. Her mother would often remind her of the uncertainty of life, which Goldberg found both grounding and unsettling.
Spreading ashes at Disneyland or Walt Disney World is generally frowned upon and not permitted by the park authorities. A Disneyland official told The Los Angeles Times in 2007 that the answer to such requests is “always” no, even when families seek permission.
Goldberg’s story highlights her deep connection with her mother and her desire to honor her in a place that held significant sentimental value. Despite her unusual method, Goldberg’s actions stem from a place of love and remembrance.
The revelation of her story on Seth Meyers’ show was met with a mix of humor and surprise from the audience. Goldberg’s candidness and willingness to share such a personal story underline her unique approach to dealing with grief and memory. As she advised, while her method was heartfelt, it is not something she encourages others to do.
