Eric Roberts recently offered a heartfelt apology to his sister, Julia Roberts, for previous comments in which he claimed responsibility for her success. In his newly released memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, the actor reflects on his past mistakes and publicly retracts the statement, acknowledging that it was both "unfortunate and untrue."

Eric Roberts Reflects on Past Remarks

In his memoir, Eric Roberts admits to saying that he was responsible for Julia Roberts' fame on more than one occasion. He now realizes how unfair that statement was. He writes, "If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts," but follows up with a sincere apology, calling his past remarks "asinine." His goal in writing this part of the memoir is to set the record straight and acknowledge that Julia’s talent and drive were the reasons behind her rise to stardom.

Roberts further elaborates, saying that his own ego clouded his pride in his sister's achievements. "I was proud of her," he states, "but it was pride turned on its head, to my own advantage." Despite his earlier claims, Roberts makes it clear that Julia’s success had little to do with him and that she would have found her way without his help.

Bruce Haring | MSN | Eric Roberts apologizes to Julia for saying he made her famous.

Julia’s Drive and Independence

Eric Roberts highlights Julia's strong-willed nature in his apology. He acknowledges that her drive would have inevitably led her to success on her own. “She’s a very driven woman,” Roberts admits, explaining that Julia's ambition would have made her stand out even if he hadn’t been involved.

In his reflections, Roberts notes how easily Julia could have achieved her goals in New York or elsewhere without his intervention. This admission is critical to his apology, as he recognizes that his previous comments diminished her accomplishments.

Eric Roberts Opens Up About His Influence

While Roberts apologizes for his past claims, he also discusses how his early success as an actor may have influenced his sister’s decision to pursue a career in show business. In his memoir, he explains that his sisters, including Julia, moved to New York and lived with him as he navigated the acting world. His experience may have sparked Julia's interest in the industry, but he stopped short of taking credit for her later achievements.

"I was born to do this," Roberts writes, explaining his own early journey as an actor in New York. He speculates that if Julia had stayed in Atlanta, her life might have taken a different path. However, Roberts clarifies that this is merely a reflection, not a justification for his previous comments.

Deadline | MSN | In his memoir, Eric explains that his sisters, including Julia, moved to New York and lived with him as he navigated the acting world.

The Challenges of Living Together

Eric Roberts doesn’t shy away from discussing the challenges of living with his sisters in New York. He reveals that both Julia and their sister Lisa lived with him for nearly a year. However, the situation became complicated as Roberts struggled with substance abuse. His difficult behavior eventually led to tension between the siblings, and Julia and Lisa moved out.

Roberts shares that he cared for his sisters during this time, even paying for their apartment when they moved out. But he also admits that his lifestyle at the time was unhealthy, which made living together nearly impossible.

Eric Roberts’ 2018 Vanity Fair Comments

Eric Roberts’ earlier public statements about Julia’s fame gained significant attention in 2018 during an interview with Vanity Fair. In that interview, Roberts made the bold claim that there would be no Julia Roberts without him. He emphasized his role in getting her representation and highlighted his own early success as a trailblazer in their family.

In the interview, Roberts also reflected on his troubled relationship with Julia, citing his own struggles with addiction as a major factor. He admits that he was exhausting to be around during the height of his substance abuse issues, which created distance between him and his sisters.