News | Entertainment
1 Jan 2026 12:36
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
     31 Dec: Miley Cyrus pitches her songwriting skills to legendary filmmakers and Hollywood stars at events to get involved in movies
     31 Dec: Jamie Lee Curtis is glad she narrowly dodged fame as a child thanks to her late mom Janet Leigh
     31 Dec: Olivia Culpo is saving all her clothes for her daughter
     31 Dec: Billie Lourd has paid tribute to her grandmother Debbie Reynolds on the ninth anniversary of her death
     31 Dec: Toni Collette has praised Kate Winslet for bringing an "incredible sense of trust and freedom" to the set of Goodbye June
     31 Dec: Ashley Park dec lares crocheting as her personal Roman Empire
     31 Dec: Erin Doherty used to order coffees in Anne, Princess Royal's regal voice to see how people reacted
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    The countdown has just ramped up to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with the ticking over of the new year More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Major electricity companies are taking a big step today, towards protecting national energy security More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Frontline emergency service personnel have been facing abuse during New Year's Eve celebrations around the country 12:27

    Rugby:
    The countdown has just ramped up to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics with the ticking over of the new year 12:26

    Soccer:
    Auckland FC defender Dan Hall is bracing for a high-octane Newcastle Jets attack in this afternoon's A-League match at Mt Smart 11:56

    Politics:
    A lack of communication from New Zealand's largest patient health portal, in the wake of a cyber security breach 11:36

    Auckland:
    State Highway 16 remains closed at Makarau, north-west of Auckland, after the discovery of a body 11:16

    National:
    Are you a hellraiser mite or a knobbled weevil? Take the quiz and vote for NZ’s Bug of the Year 11:16

    Politics:
    Nominations are now open for the Papatoetoe subdivision's local board election in Auckland 11:06

    Business:
    Major electricity companies are taking a big step today, towards protecting national energy security 10:46

    National:
    Why procrastination isn’t laziness – it’s rigid thinking that your brain can unlearn 10:36

    National:
    Focus apps claim to improve your productivity. Do they actually work? 10:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd