Whoopi Goldberg has finally met her newly discovered relative, former NFL star Tony Gonzalez, after learning about their distant familial connection on the show Finding Your Roots. On an episode of The View, the two cousins quickly bonded, with Gonzalez referring to Goldberg as “Cousin Whoopi.”
Earlier this month, Finding Your Roots’ Henry Louis Gates revealed that the two shared DNA on Gonzalez’s maternal grandfather’s side, and Goldberg noted how the familial connection was important to her, declaring, “That’s my blood right there.”
During their meeting on The View, the co-hosts cracked light-hearted jokes about Goldberg and Gonzalez’s newfound familial connection. Sara Haines jokingly expressed an interest in discovering her own roots, while Ana Navarro teased about the rarity of a cousin who might not be interested in being in the will, according to The View.
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But, Gonzalez joined in the banter, cheekily asking Goldberg if he could borrow $5. Goldberg responded playfully, saying, “Hey, listen, for you, anything”.
The playful requests continued as Goldberg spoke to the former NFL star about the upcoming Super Bowl. Referencing a previous conversation with Julia Roberts, who expressed her desire to attend the Super Bowl because she has never had the chance to witness the event, Goldberg asked Gonzalez about the possibility of helping her secure a ticket.
Goldberg playfully expressed her admiration for Roberts while discussing the Super Bowl with Gonzalez on The View. Goldberg, hinting at attending the event in Las Vegas, suggested that if Gonzalez needed company, she and Roberts could join him.
Gonzalez enthusiastically agreed, assuring Goldberg that she could come as his guest and bring Roberts along, stating that: “the more the merrier”.
The NFL star, promoting his role on Amazon Prime Video’s The UnderDoggs, said he was overly excited to discover that Goldberg was his cousin. He added that he and Goldberg are connected through their ancestor George Betts, a former slave, who belonged to the rare 5% of slaves who acquired property after the abolition of slavery.
Gonzalez, who spoke highly of Betts, described him as a tough and determined person who went on to become a major in a militia protecting Black people after slavery was abolished. He also revealed that Goldberg wasn’t the only familial connection he has found out following the novel breakthrough.
Gonzalez learned that he is a direct relative of the prolific playwright William Shakespeare.
