If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, SheKnows may receive an affiliate commission.
Eric Roberts has put the argument with his younger sister Julia Roberts behind him. The 68-year-old actor calls his new memoirs Runaway Train: Or the story of my life so faran official “public apology” to his 56-year-old brother, according to People.
More from SheKnows
In the press, the long-running battle was fueled by his infamous quote: “If it weren’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.” Eric was involved in projects such as Star 80 And The Pope of Greenwich Villagebut her fame soon surpassed his – and his cocaine addiction didn’t help matters. Eric told the media outlet that his drug abuse was a catalyst for the failure of their relationship.
“(The 59-year-old sister) Lisa and Julia needed love and protection – instead they got fear and insecurity,” he explained of how his addiction took over his life. The sisters had to choose when Eric was in a custody battle with ex-girlfriend Kelly Cunningham over their daughter Emma Roberts, now 33. “Obviously the worst consequence of my drug use was losing Emma,” he said of losing his daughter when she was a baby. Julia sided with Cunningham because Eric’s addiction was at its peak – and he now understands it was the right decision for everyone involved.
There seems to be a rule in the Roberts family that Eric is forbidden to speak about his daughter or his sister in the press. Eric revealed this telling detail in an interview on Still here, Hollywood Podcast in July. “I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her. She doesn’t want to talk about it,” he admitted. “And besides, my daughter told me not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I shouldn’t talk about either of them. But I do.”
While Julia has remained surprisingly silent over the decades about what Eric’s relationship with her father has meant for her career, Emma has hinted. “I’ve lost more jobs than I’ve gained through my work in the business,” she said Flaunt Magazine. “People have opinions and sometimes they may not be good opinions about people in the family. I never got a job because of it; I know I definitely lost a few jobs because of it.”
It’s not really clear what the situation is between Julia and Emma and Eric now. Behind the scenes, he seems to think things are going well between them, but his “public apology” speaks volumes about their supposedly strained relationship. Let’s just say it’s complicated.
Before you go, click here to see family feuds we think are played out in public.
The Best of SheKnows
Sign up for the SheKnows newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
