News | Entertainment
14 Nov 2025 11:33
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."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     14 Nov: Ali Larter finds life in Idaho "incredible calming"
     14 Nov: Prince William has warned the Earth is "dangerously close" to "critical tipping points"
     14 Nov: Gene Simmons gorges on cakes and cookies
     14 Nov: Glen Powell got "running lessons" from Tom Cruise
     14 Nov: Guillermo del Toro heard "an entire murder" play out during a ghostly encounter
     14 Nov: Cardi B's boyfriend has been confirmed as the father of another woman's baby
     14 Nov: Timothée Chalamet was disappointed not to win the Best Actor Oscar this year
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Samoa or Belgium will take the last place at the men's 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    The ownership of manuka honey exporter Comvita is set to be determined this afternoon More...



     Today's News

    Politics:
    Ukraine: energy corruption scandal threatens to derail Zelensky’s government and undermine its war effort 11:17

    International:
    BBC apologises to Donald Trump over documentary edit, rejects compensation claim 11:17

    Entertainment:
    Ali Larter finds life in Idaho "incredible calming" 11:12

    Business:
    The ownership of manuka honey exporter Comvita is set to be determined this afternoon 11:07

    Health & Safety:
    Health New Zealand dealing with VRE cluster in Auckland and two small outbreaks at Christchurch Hospital 10:47

    Entertainment:
    Prince William has warned the Earth is "dangerously close" to "critical tipping points" 10:42

    Technology:
    Epstein email says Andrew had photo taken with accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre 10:27

    Living & Travel:
    Dogs 10,000 years ago roamed with bands of humans and came in all shapes and sizes 10:27

    Business:
    A former Wairoa restaurateur is facing liquidation over a 400-thousand dollar debt to Inland Revenue 10:27

    National:
    The rise of the autistic detective – why neurodivergent minds are at the heart of modern mysteries 10:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd