Julia Roberts' Brother Eric Issues Major Apology to Sister Over Controversial Statements
Eric Roberts is making a very public apology to his famous sister, Julia Roberts.
In his upcoming memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, the 68-year-old actor takes back previous claims that he was responsible for Julia's superstar career, according to People.
“I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said," he writes.
Eric, who is the father of Scream Queens actress Emma Roberts, raised eyebrows in 2018 when he told Vanity Fair, “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that.”
“And I am so proud that everybody knows I was first, because I was first by a long shot,” he continued. “I was first to get Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations, so I’m proud of that.”
Eric was nominated for an Oscar for Runaway Train in 1985, while Julia nabbed nominations for Steel Magnolias in 1990 and Pretty Woman in 1991, finally taking home the best actress Academy Award for Erin Brokovich in 2001.
Related: Eric Roberts on Why It Took Him 19 Years to Appear on 'Dancing with the Stars'
In the book, Eric says his years of drug abuse harmed his relationship with Julia, as well as his sister Lisa.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from when it was dangerous to be around me,” he writes. “Lisa and Julia needed love and protection—instead they got fear and uncertainty.”
The star says the "biggest consequence" of his addiction, however, was that he lost custody of Emma, his daughter with Kim Cunningham. Still, he has high hopes for the future.
“I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad for the rest of my life,” he writes. “I’d like to make good on that, to move aside proudly and with grace. That’s part of the reason for writing the book.”
In addition to releasing his new memoir, Eric will appear on the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars.
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