Ariana Grande’s mom wants her ashes scattered over Cinderella Castle.
The “Wicked” actress admitted Joan Grande raises the subject with her and her brother, Frankie Grande, every time they visit Walt Disney World in Florida, but it isn’t something she likes to think about.
Discussing Disney landmarks, Ariana told Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on their “Las Culturistas” podcast Wednesday, “When it comes to Florida, when it comes to the Disney in Florida, first of all, we get Cinderella’s Castle. Which is, you know, also a landmark.
“My mom tells us too often that she wants her ashes sprinkled over it. And I’m like, ‘Mom, it’s Christmas. Do we have to talk about this right now?’ And she’s like, ‘Yeah. You have to make sure that happens.’
“I’m like, ‘Mom, I don’t wanna make sure that that happens.’”
The 31-year-old star also pointed out a practical problem with Joan’s plan to have her remains spread over the 189-foot-high tourist attraction.
She said, “I think there’s actors back there working. So you’re gonna be sprinkled on people’s heads who are, like, dressed as Tinker Bell, waiting for their cue.”
Despite Joan’s wish, Disney bosses don’t allow ashes to be scattered at their theme parks.
However, Whoopi Goldberg admitted earlier this year she actually scattered her mom Emma Harris’ ashes at Disneyland on her parent’s favorite ride, It’s a Small World, following her death in 2010.
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But because the practice isn’t allowed, Goldberg resorted to faking sneezing fits as cover while she randomly “scooped some of her up” to spread the ashes around the ride.
Speaking on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” in July, she said, “No one should do this. Don’t do it.
“My mother loved Disneyland; we took her to Disneyland.
“When I was a kid, the World’s Fair was [in New York], and it was the introduction of Small World; she loved Small World.
“So in the Small World ride … periodically I’d scoop some of her up and do this [giant sneeze], and I’d say, ‘My God, this cold is getting worse and worse.'”
Goldberg then used her sneeze technique by the park entrance.
She added, “And then we got over to the flowers that say Disneyland, and I said, ‘Oh, look at this’ and [sneezed].”
Despite trying to conceal her actions, the “Color Purple” star confessed to Disneyland bosses afterward.
She said, “I told them I did it. I wanted to make sure, actually, that I hadn’t done something that was dangerous, ’cause it hadn’t occurred to me. But there’s a reason they don’t want ashes just floatin’ around.”
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