Whoopi Goldberg Is Speechless Upon Learning She's Related to a Kansas City Chiefs Player
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Whoopi Goldberg attends FGI Night of Stars 39th Annual Gala at The Plaza on October 17, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Whoopi Goldberg is vying for a meeting after discovering she's got a genetic link to an NFL legend.
During a recent episode of The View, historian Henry Louis Gates Jr.—who hosts the genealogy show Finding Your Roots, which follows celebrities as they learn more about their ancestry and discover previously unknown connections—brought the co-host's DNA report, which revealed that she's related to Travis Kelce predecessor Tony Gonzalez, a former Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons tight end, per The Daily Mail.
Gates explained that Goldberg had appeared on a previous iteration of the series in the early aughts called African American Lives, which explored the DNA results of several Black celebrities. However, DNA testing has evolved immensely since then, allowing "more sophisticated tests" to uncover the link between the actress and the athlete.
"You all know about DNA cousins? You have a DNA cousin, dear," he told Goldberg, adding a dramatic pause for effect before revealing, "Tony Gonzalez is your DNA cousin. How's that for a Christmas present?"
Goldberg was speechless over the revelation, eventually questioning, "That's my cousin?" before inviting him to come on the show, pleading, "Cousin Tony, come see me here. We'd like to have you here at The View. Tony Gonzalez, come on!"
It's not clear how closely related the two are, though he was able to trace her lineage all the way back to 1873, when her ancestors were granted over 100 acres of land in the state of Florida after submitting an application related to the Homestead Act of 1862.
Today, Gonzalez is following more closely in his cousin's footsteps, having retired from the field in 2013. Now, he serves as an analyst of Prime Video's Thursday Night Football.
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