Talk show host Whoopi Goldberg was left stunned to discover that she is related to NFL legend Tony Gonzalez.
Historian Henry Louis Gates Jr., the host of genealogy show ‘Finding Your Roots’ on PBS, joined The View on Tuesday to reveal the new DNA findings to the 68-year-old Goldberg.
The TV host had appeared on an episode of the program in 2006 when it was called ‘African American Lives’ but over ten years on, Gates explained that technology had since advanced so that ‘more sophisticated tests’ could discover the genealogical link between Goldberg and Gonzalez.
‘On the first series, I did [a number of Black celebrities including] Whoopi and we didn’t have the sophisticated tests that we now use for DNA at that time,’ said Gates.
‘You all know about DNA cousins? You have a DNA cousin, dear…,’ he added, pausing for suspense, ‘Tony Gonzalez is your DNA cousin. How’s that for a Christmas present?’
Goldberg was left speechless with her mouth wide open. She exclaimed: ‘That’s my cousin?’
She managed to regain her composure to invite the former NFL star on the show, adding: ‘Cousin Tony, come see me here. We’d like to have you here at The View. Tony Gonzalez, come on!’
While Gates did not clarify exactly how closely related Goldberg and the former tight end are, he did recall that in 1873, Goldberg’s ancestors were granted more than 100 acres of land in Florida as a result of an application following the Homestead Act of 1862. They were among 10 percent of African Americans whose claims were accepted by the government.
Gonzalez was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 following an incredible 17-year careers in the NFL.
He earned six First-team All-Pro nominations and was also named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
He starred for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Flacons, catching 111 touchdowns and had more than 15,000 receiving yards.
More recently, he has been following in the footsteps of his distant relative Goldberg by also joining a television panel.
The 47-year-old currently works as an analyst of Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football, alongside Ryan Fitzpatrick, Richard Sherman, Andrew Whitworth and host Charissa Thompson.
Goldberg and Gonzalez aren’t the only celebrity connection Gates has discovered this week.
During this week’s episode of ‘Finding Your Roots’, the show in which Gates teams up with expert genealogists and historians to tell guests about their family history, he revealed that singer Ciara and New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter are also distant cousins.
