Whoopi Goldberg meets NFL icon Tony Gonzalez after 'Finding Your Roots' reveals they are cousins
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Co-host Whoopi Goldberg came face-to-face with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez for the first time on the January 29 episode of 'The View' after they were revealed to be distant cousins earlier this month.
According to People, Henry Louis Gates of 'Finding Your Roots' discovered that Goldberg, 68, and Gonzalez, 47, shared DNA on Gonzalez’s mom’s father’s side.
As the football legend kept calling the comedian, "Cousin Whoopi! Cousin Whoopi," the latter announced to the audience, "That’s my blood right there."
Whoopi Goldberg and NFL legend @TonyGonzalez88 meet for the first time after 'Finding Your Roots' Henry Louis Gates discovered they are DNA cousins! https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/Moqb13EwWa
— The View (@TheView) January 30, 2024
The two were quick to make playful demands of each other. As co-host Ana Navarro teased Goldberg, "I think this is probably the only cousin that could pop up that’s not going to wanna be in the will," Gonzalez quipped, "I’ll be in the will. I’ll take that!" and asked his newfound cousin, "Can I borrow $5?"
"Hey, listen, for you, anything," replied the EGOT winner, and in turn asked Gonzalez to help score Superbowl tickets for herself and Julia Roberts.
Gonzalez was game, saying, "I got you cousin... You come with me as your guest, bring Julia too. The more the merrier."
Who is the connecting link between Whoopi Goldberg and Tony Gonzalez?
Sharing how "incredible" it was finding out that he was related to Goldberg, Gonzalez said that the two were connected through George Betts, a former slave on his grandfather's side. Betts was one of only 5 per cent of slaves who bought property after slavery was abolished in 1865.
"This guy was tough," mentioned Gonzalez. "And it’s just amazing. He was elected a major for a militia to protect Black people, because a lot of White people weren’t happy that slavery was ended... This is just a strong man. This is who you’re related to, who I’m related to. A strong, stubborn person."
Tony Gonzalez is related to an even more famous personality
While revealing he's related to Goldberg, Gates told Gonzalez that he was also a direct relative of William Shakespeare. Yes, you heard that right.
Sharing the moment of the discovery on the morning show, Gonzalez recalled Gates telling him, "'Turn the page, you’re related to somebody who’s one of the most famous people ever in the world.'"
"I was like, 'Who the hell can this be?' So I turn the page and it wasn’t a photo, it was a painting. And I’m like, 'Who is this guy, I don’t recognize him'. And (Gate)’s like, That’s William Shakespeare.' And he goes, 'Not only are you not a distant cousin, you’re a direct relative,'" he continued.
"That was pretty crazy, the whole thing is crazy," added the sports commentator.
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