News | Entertainment
12 Jan 2026 18:26
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
     12 Jan: Sarah Michelle Gellar has revealed the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series is titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale
     12 Jan: Golden Globes 2026 winners list: Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham win for Adolescence performances
     12 Jan: Khloe Kardashian's son Tatum is the "only boy allowed in [her] bed at the moment"
     12 Jan: Jenny McCarthy has vowed never to return to The View
     12 Jan: Bowen Yang felt like it was "time" for him to leave Saturday Night Live
     12 Jan: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass's team have hit out at Spencer Pratt's bid to take her job
     12 Jan: Bunnie Xo's life-long mission is to ensure "people known that they are loved"
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    All Black halfback-in-waiting Dylan Pledger will miss 12 months of rugby after rupturing an ACL during pre-season training with the Highlanders More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A group of Asian supermarkets and retailers have gone into liquidation across Auckland owning millions More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    man's been arrested in Auckland CBD, and a fake gun's been recovered after reports of a person carrying a firearm 18:07

    Living & Travel:
    Golden Globes 2026: Australian Rose Byrne wins best comedy nod, One Battle after Another triumphs 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Sarah Michelle Gellar has revealed the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer series is titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale 17:53

    Business:
    A group of Asian supermarkets and retailers have gone into liquidation across Auckland owning millions 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Golden Globes 2026 winners list: Owen Cooper, Stephen Graham win for Adolescence performances 17:27

    Entertainment:
    Khloe Kardashian's son Tatum is the "only boy allowed in [her] bed at the moment" 17:23

    International:
    Golden Globes 2026 live updates: Rose Byrne wins first-ever Globe, One Battle After Another and Adolescence win big 17:17

    Rugby:
    All Black halfback-in-waiting Dylan Pledger will miss 12 months of rugby after rupturing an ACL during pre-season training with the Highlanders 16:57

    Entertainment:
    Jenny McCarthy has vowed never to return to The View 16:53

    Entertainment:
    Bowen Yang felt like it was "time" for him to leave Saturday Night Live 16:23


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd