Emma Roberts’ Dad Opens Up About Their Rift

In 2024 he admitted to a rift in his relationship with Emma.  

Speaking on an episode of the Inside You podcast, the star was asked about the 'toughest time of his life' and said: 'Probably the loss of relationship with my daughter.'

Roberts - who wrote about their complex dynamic in the memoir Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far - said his relationship with Emma is 'indefinable.'

'There's not a pain. There's a sadness for the, most likely, misunderstandings we'll all have forever. Because we're human.'

Eric said becoming a grandfather had enabled him to realize the true magnitude of what he had lost in his relationship with Emma. He has two step grandchildren from his marriage to Eliza Garrett and a grandson from Emma's relationship with Garrett Hedlund.

He said: 'I started accepting that about myself with the birth of my grandchildren. Especially the 5-year-old, she was first and she was a girl and took a liking to me in a very strong way.

He said his eldest granddaughter 'looks like Emma which reminds me of what I didn’t have.'

Roberts has called losing custody of a young Emma as the biggest consequence of his drug use.

A feud erupted between Eric and Julia - who sided with Kelly in the custody battle - a move which Eric now agrees with.

Elsewhere in his memoir Roberts made a public apology to Oscar winner sister Julia for previously saying: 'If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.'

He writes: 'I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said.

Eric's candid memoir covers his arrival in Tinseltown at the age of 17, his extensive career and his struggle with substance abuse disorder.

The actor and his sister had always been close until he made a sarcastic comment in the early 1990s while discussing the success of her classic film, Pretty Woman.

The Runaway Train star has always insisted that it was taken out of context, a sentiment that he reiterated in 2022 on the Behind The Velvet Rope with David Yontef podcast.

'Julia and I have always been fine,' he said. 'I think years and years ago, I was doing a press tour for some movie… It was just when Pretty Woman just got released and so they're asking a bunch of questions about Julia. And I said, "Hey, excuse me. Can we talk about me?"'

The Suits alum explained that his comment was misinterpreted as he added: 'Of course, then it's like, "Oh, they have a problem."'

While the siblings 'don't agree about a lot of things,' the actor insisted that they still have a close bond.

'I love knowing my sister,' he said. 'She's a cool chick, my sister. I just stay out of her hair with the press. That's all. Simple. And she stays out of mine.'

Eric claims the only thing that ever caused a rift with his sisters Julia and Lisa was his past drug addiction.

He told Vanity Fair previously: 'I wouldn't characterize it as a falling-out. I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness.

'We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.'

The actor continued: 'I was exhausting to be around: complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment. Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia.'

However, he explained that after years of estrangement, the siblings reunited in 2004 when Julia welcomed Hazel and Phinnaeus.

Eric said that he visited the hospital after his younger sister gave birth 'to drop off gifts.'

He added: 'Instead I was ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love.'

The performer went on to say that after that visit, they spent several Thanksgivings together and became 'email buddies.'

Back in May 2020, he spoke fondly about how much he loved to see the bond between Julia and his daughter Emma.

He told Us Weekly: 'It’s really cool to look at them. I love seeing them together.'

Eric has previously revealed Emma and Julia have told him not to talk about them in interviews.

He said: 'I love my sister, but I can't talk about her. She doesn't wanna talk about it.'

'My daughter told me also not to talk about her, but I stumble and do. I'm not supposed to talk about either of them. But I do.'