Eric Roberts is publicly addressing his past conflicts with his younger sister, Julia Roberts, in what he calls an official “public apology” in his new memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far. The 68-year-old actor has had a fraught relationship with his 56-year-old sibling for years, much of which he attributes to his struggles with addiction. In a recent interview with People, Eric revealed that his drug abuse, especially during his younger years, led to the breakdown of his family relationships, noting, “Lisa [his 59-year-old sister] and Julia needed love and protection — instead they got fear and uncertainty.”
The tension between the siblings was exacerbated during a custody battle between Eric and his ex-girlfriend, Kelly Cunningham, over their daughter, Emma Roberts, now 33. During this time, Julia sided with Cunningham, given that Eric’s addiction was at its peak. Reflecting on this, Eric admits he now understands that Julia made the right decision for everyone involved, sharing, “Of course, the biggest consequence of my drug use was losing Emma.”
Despite his desire to make amends, it appears that the Roberts family prefers to keep their relationship private. Eric revealed on the Still Here Hollywood podcast that he has been asked by both Julia and Emma not to speak about them publicly. “I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her. She doesn’t want to talk about it,” he explained. “And also, my daughter told me not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I’m not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.” This has led to speculation about the current state of their relationship, with Eric acknowledging that discussing them publicly is off-limits, suggesting ongoing tension.
While Julia has remained silent on her relationship with Eric over the years, Emma has hinted at how her father’s reputation has impacted her career. In an interview with Flaunt magazine, she said, “I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained from being in the business. People have opinions and sometimes maybe they’re not good opinions of people in your family. I’ve never gotten a job because of it; I know I definitely have lost a couple of jobs because of it.”
It remains unclear exactly where Julia and Emma stand with Eric today. Though he seems to believe they are on better terms behind the scenes, his new memoir’s “public apology” suggests that their relationship may still be complicated.
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