Talk show host Whoopi Goldberg was left stunned to discover that she is related to NFL legend Tony Gonzalez.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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‘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.<\/p>\n
‘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?’<\/p>\n
Goldberg was left speechless with her mouth wide open. She exclaimed: ‘That’s my cousin?’<\/p>\n
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!’<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n