Whoopi Goldberg had a shocking start to 2024.
On Tuesday in the episode ViewEGOT winner was left speechless when she learned that she and former NFL star Tony Gonzalez are actually cousins, according to a new DNA test.
The discovery was made by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., historian and host of the long-running PBS series Searching for your roots. In the series, Gates works with expert researchers in genealogy and history to inform guests about their ancestors.
Goldberg appeared in an earlier season of the show when it was called African American Lives. But a decade after that streak, Gates Jr. revealed her connection to Gonzalez.
“In the first series, I did [a number of Black celebrities including] Whoopi and I didn’t have the sophisticated tests we use now for DNA at the time,” Gates explained. “Y’all know about DNA cousins? You have a DNA cousin, dear … Tony Gonzales is your DNA cousin.”
Whoopi Goldberg on ‘The View’.
ABC
Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Related
Upon hearing the news, Goldberg was speechless. “That’s my cousin!?” she asked, her mouth hanging open and struggling to speak again.
Her View co-hosts had a lot to say, though, with the former football tight end, who played in the NFL for 17 seasons and currently works as a football analyst on Prime Video.
“He smokes!” Sunny Hostin gushed as Sara Haines joked, “Wow, I want to come to your family dinner.”
“They could kiss cousins,” Joy Behar teased. (Gonzalez is married to October Tobie, with whom he has three children. He has another son from a previous relationship with journalist Lauren Sánchez).
Added Gates, Jr., “How about that for a Christmas present?”
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Tony Gonzalez, while playing for the Atlanta Falcons. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Sports/Getty Images
By the end of the episode, Goldberg had regained her composure. “Cousin Tony, come see me here. We’d love to have you here in the View,” she said. “Tony Gonzalez, come on!”
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Goldberg is not the first celebrity to find out through genealogical testing that she is related to another star.
During an episode of Ancestry’s 2 lies and leaf series, Ashley Tisdale found out that she and her best friend Austin Butler are cousins in the 10th century after they were removed. “No wonder we have such a bond!” Tisdale, 38, said when she heard the news. “We’ve always said we’re brother and sister! It’s crazy. I’m literally going to cry.”
View airs weekdays (11 a.m. ET) on ABC.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education