Julia Roberts’ brother Eric apologizes for saying he made her famous: ‘I’d like to make good’

nypost.com:

“Runaway Train: or, The Story of My Life So Far.” The “Dancing With The Stars” contestant was already a successful actor when his baby sister moved to New York in 1985 to pursue an acting career of her own.

He also happened to be in the throes of cocaine addiction at the time. Eric, who is also actress Emma Roberts’ father, has taken credit for his baby sister and daughter’s stardom on more than one occasion. “If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses,” he told Vanity Fair in 2018, adding, “and I’m very proud of that.” But now, Eric is changing his tune. “I hope Julia will accept this public apology,” he writes in “Runaway Train,” according to People. “It was an asinine thing to have said.” He went on to say that he believes his drug addiction damaged his relationship with Julia and his other sister, Lisa, when they were younger. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they suffered from PTSD from when it was dangerous to be around me,” he admitted. “Lisa and Julia needed love and protection — instead they got fear and uncertainty.” However, the “Dark Knight” actor said his addiction hurt his relationship with his daughter more than anyone else. “Of course, the biggest consequence of my drug use was losing Emma,” he shared, alluding to the custody battle he fought and lost with Emma’s mom, Kelly Cunningham.

Eric and Cunningham split when Emma was a baby.The custody dispute also happened to be the beginning of his estrangement with Julia, as she took Cunningham’s side in the proceedings.

Though Eric didn’t go into detail about that moment, he wrote that his ex getting custody of Emma was the right decision. “I imagine I will remain as Julia’s brother and Emma Roberts’ dad.