• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Whoopi Goldberg reveals the controversial place she spread her mother's ashes

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 19:21 17 Jul 2024 GMT+1

Whoopi Goldberg reveals the controversial place she spread her mother's ashes

Whoopi Goldberg has opened up about where she scattered her mom's ashes, but warned others to 'not do this'

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

Whoopi Goldberg has opened up about where she scattered her mom's ashes and why 'no one [else] should do it'.

Goldberg's mom, the nurse and teacher Emma Johnson, passed away on August 29, 2010 after experiencing a stroke.

The 68-year-old actor - real name Caryn Elaine Johnson - has since spoken about the 'special' arrangements she made for scattering her mother's ashes.

Goldberg found out her mom had died while starring in a West End run of Sister Act the musical, she explained in her memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me released earlier this year.

Advert

She was in her dressing room when she received a call from her brother, Clyde, informing her of the devastating news.

Goldberg recalled being with Dame Maggie Smith at the time - who starred alongside her in the Sister Act movie - who stayed with her until she went to the airport to fly back to her family.

And during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Myers, the actor, comedian, TV host and author opened up about the 'special' way she said goodbye to her mom, forewarning the audience that 'no one should do this,' before reiterating again: "Don't do this."

Whoopi Goldberg and her mom. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Whoopi Goldberg and her mom. (Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Advert

Goldberg revealed she decided to scatter her mom's ashes in a location she 'loved'.

However, the precise location her mother enjoyed going to, well, let's just say it's not exactly the sort of place you'd expect to find ashes, with Goldberg revealing she took her mom to Disneyland.

The actor continued: "When I was a kid, the World's Fair was here and it was the introduction of Small World. And she loved Small World.

"So, in the Small World ride periodically, I'd scoop some of her up and I'd do this [Pretends to sneeze] Oh. I said: 'My God, this cold is getting worse and worse.'

Advert

"And then we got over to the flowers where it says 'Disneyland'. And I was like: 'Oh, look at that'. [Cue another fake sneeze]."

Unable to keep it to herself, Goldberg admitted she did eventually tell Disneyland what she did.

Goldberg scattered her mom's ashes on Disneyland's 'Small World' ride. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Goldberg scattered her mom's ashes on Disneyland's 'Small World' ride. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

"I wanted to make sure, actually, that I hadn't done something that was dangerous," she continued. "It hadn't occurred to me but there's a reason they don't want ashes just floating around."

Advert

Earlier on in the interview, Goldberg joked about smoking her mom, continuing later on: "I don't think she'd have wanted me to smoke her.

"My brother maybe, but not. Yeah. Because I don't have either one of them."

Goldberg explained her graphic novel The Change - which was released earlier this month - is 'really a love letter to parents and the people who raised [her]'.

She resolved: "The people who raised me to be a halfway decent person. I'm not always decent, not always, but halfway."

Advert

UNILAD has contacted Disneyland for comment.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.

Featured Image Credit: NBC

Topics: Celebrity, Disneyland, Parenting, Whoopi Goldberg

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Arnold Schwarzenegger's rarely-seen son Joseph reveals what his superstar dad 'busts his balls' about

    Joseph Baena said his dad is his 'role model'

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Grey's Anatomy star Eric Dane fights back tears as he discusses heartbreaking ALS diagnosis in first interview

    The actor previously portrayed Dr. Mark Sloan on the medical drama and starred as Jason Dean in Charmed

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Caitlyn Jenner speaks out from bomb shelter as she's trapped in Israel during Iran missile strikes

    Caitlyn Jenner says she's drinking wine while missiles are striking down around her shelter

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Arnold Schwarzenegger's controversial family history revealed as one son seems to be left out of family photo on red carpet

    Schwarzenegger's son, Joseph Baena, was a scandal in the 2010s

    Celebrity
  • Whoopi Goldberg gives very candid reason for not ever wanting to get married
  • Whoopi Goldberg sparks retirement rumors from The View after appearing ‘tired’ and ‘uninterested’ on recent show
  • Christina Applegate reveals the bucket list things she wants to do with the days she has 'left in life' amid MS battle
  • The View host Joy Behar slams ‘idiot’ Travis Kelce and says she doesn’t want Taylor Swift to end up with him