Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union stirred debate across South African social media after a video surfaced showing her laying her late father’s ashes to rest at a winery in the Western Cape.
The emotional moment reportedly took place at Klein Goederust Wine Estate, a black-owned vineyard in Cape Town, where the actress buried the ashes beneath the vines.
The video quickly gained traction online, with many social media users sharing mixed reactions to the deeply personal tribute.
Union confirmed earlier this year that her father, Sylvester “Cully” Union Jr., died on 3 April 2026 at the age of 81 after battling dementia.
The late military veteran’s passing was met with an outpouring of support from fans around the world.
The actress, who has been spending time in South Africa in recent weeks, also shared clips of herself exploring Cape Town and shopping locally.
Her visit comes months after fellow American actress Meagan Good was also spotted in Mzansi.
While some social media users praised Gabrielle Union for choosing a meaningful and peaceful resting place for her father, others questioned the decision to bury his ashes in South Africa.
“But this is so wrong in every way. Why is she leaving us with her dad, who lived with her overseas? We don’t even know him,” one user wrote.
Another social media user questioned whether the necessary permissions had been obtained, writing: “Does she have proper documents for that? Is there any document needed to bury the ashes of someone who was not even South African?”
Others reacted more humorously, with one commenter joking that the vineyard could become “haunted” after the burial.
Gabrielle Union Buries Father’s Ashes at Cape Town Winery in Emotional Farewell
American actress Gabrielle Union has shared a deeply personal farewell to her late father, burying his ashes beneath the vines at Klein Goederust Wine Estate, a Black-owned winery near Cape Town.… pic.twitter.com/jUA9UZumMp
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) May 24, 2026