News | Entertainment
18 Feb 2026 7:34
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Whoopi Goldberg scattered her mother's ashes at Disneyland

    The 'View' co-host's mom, Emma Harris, passed away in 2010 and the 68-year-old actress decided to honour her by spreading her remains while on her parent's favourite ride at the theme park, It's a Small World.


    However, because the practice isn't allowed, Whoopi resorted to faking sneezing fits as cover while she randomly "scooped some of her up" to spread the ashes around the ride.

    Speaking on 'Late Night with Seth Meyers', she said: "No one should do this. Don't do it.

    "My mother loved Disneyland, we took her to Disneyland.

    "When I was a kid, the World's Fair was (in New York) and it was the introduction of Small World, she loved Small World.

    "So in the Small World ride... Periodically I'd scoop some of her up and do this [giant sneeze] and I'd say, 'My god this cold is getting worse and worse.'

    Whoopi then used her sneeze technique by the park entrance.

    She added: "And then we got over to the flowers that say Disneyland and I said, 'Oh look at this' and [sneezed]."

    Despite trying to conceal her actions, the 'Color Purple' star confessed to Disneyland bosses afterwards.

    She said: "I told them I did it. 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."

    Theme park staff have previously admitted they have to clean up ashes around once a month, with rides being shut down due to "technical difficulties" when they are actually being deep cleaned.

    And one ride is chosen far more frequently than others for scattering ashes.

    An unnamed custodian told the Wall Street Journal in 2018: "The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it's not even funny."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Feb: Will Ferrell is desperately wanted for a guest star role on The Simpsons
     18 Feb: Will Smith gifted Jada Pinkett Smith life-size pillows of their blended family for Valentine's Day
     18 Feb: Sharon Osbourne has marked her first Valentine's Day without Ozzy Osbourne
     17 Feb: Leslie Grossman and Sascha Penn are married
     17 Feb: Keke Palmer is "more intentional" with her work and time since becoming a mom
     17 Feb: Harry Styles learnt "how to slow down" on his career break
     17 Feb: Jelly Roll and Bunnie Xo's sex life is better now that he is not "so big"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Irish rugby to investigate racial abuse towards Test debutant Edwin Edogbo More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A sharp rise in food inflation could unfortunately be out of our control More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Will Ferrell is desperately wanted for a guest star role on The Simpsons 7:27

    Business:
    A sharp rise in food inflation could unfortunately be out of our control 7:27

    International:
    US military says 11 men killed in strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats 7:27

    Business:
    Dairy prices have risen another 3.6 percent at this morning's latest Global Dairy Trade auction 7:17

    Living & Travel:
    Support for changes to dog control laws following a deadly dog attack in Northland 7:07

    Entertainment:
    Will Smith gifted Jada Pinkett Smith life-size pillows of their blended family for Valentine's Day 6:57

    Law and Order:
    A woman's on trial in Nelson, accused of medically abusing her child 6:47

    Entertainment:
    Sharon Osbourne has marked her first Valentine's Day without Ozzy Osbourne 6:27

    International:
    The Missing number in the hundreds of thousands in Syria, where mass graves of torture victims are found weekly 4:37

    Entertainment:
    Leslie Grossman and Sascha Penn are married 21:57


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd