Ghostbusters star can't stop the tears speaking to idol Whoopi Goldberg

Saturday Night Live’s Leslie Jones stopped by The View on Thursday to promote her role in the new Ghostbusters movie opening this weekend. At 48-years-old the comedian is finally breaking into mainstream media and she says she has The View co-host to thank for that.

Who ya gonna call!? ???? @lesdogggg | #Ghostbusters #LeslieJones #TheView

A photo posted by The View (@theviewabc) on Jul 14, 2016 at 11:34am PDT

Jones explains that growing up she had very few role models she could relate to in the entertainment industry. So, seeing Whoopi Goldberg on television was a life-changing moment.

“When I was young, my dad always let me listen to comedy albums. I always knew about comedy, I always loved comedy,” she explains. “The day that I saw Whoopi Goldberg on television, I cried so hard, because I kept looking at my daddy going, ‘Oh my god! There’s somebody on TV that looks like me! She looks like me! Daddy, I can be on TV! I can be on TV! I can do it! Look at her, look at her! She looks just like me.”

I want to thank my baby @csiriano for making me this fabulous gown and for my wonderful stylist @bmcstylez for putting this look all together! Styled BY: @bmcstylez Dress: @csiriano Necklace: @dannijo / @neimanmarcus Bag: @judithleiberny / @neimanmarcus Earrings: @chrisairebeverlyhills Shoes: @vincecamuto

A video posted by Leslie Jones (@lesdogggg) on Jul 9, 2016 at 5:51pm PDT

Jones explains that her father recorded the show for her and she “literally watched it every day after school.”

Jones, who up until that point was trying not to look directly at Goldberg for fear of crying, then turns to her and says, “I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart because now I know what I’m doing when I put on that Ghostbusters suit and little girls see me on TV now. They’re gonna go, ‘I can do it,’ and you gave that to me, and I love you. I love you from my heart and my soul. I love you for what you’ve done for Black women. I love you for what you’ve done for Black comedians, and I love you”

And now we’re all crying.