Eric Roberts has addressed the public perception of his relationship with his daughter, actress Emma Roberts, calling it "complicated through outside eyes" but emphasizing his enduring love and pride for her.
In a recent podcast interview, the veteran actor denied any "bad blood" with Emma, whom he shares with ex-partner Kelly Cunningham. "It's only complicated through outside eyes," Roberts explained, "because they don't get any of it. So, they have their own take, whatever that is."
Roberts, 69, acknowledged the challenges in their relationship over the years, particularly during Emma's early childhood when he struggled with drug addiction. "I was a wash rag," he confessed. "I was not to be depended on emotionally whatsoever." He described himself as a "car wreck" at the time but now takes "full responsibility" for his past behavior.
Despite these difficulties, Roberts shared a poignant memory from Emma's birth that continues to define their bond. He recalled how the newborn was "screaming her head off" until he began singing "Happy Birthday"—a song he had also sung while Emma's mother was pregnant.
"She stopped screaming and tried to find my face with her little blind eyes," Roberts remembered. "It was the most complete moment maybe I have ever had in my life. That something I did was recognized by a brand-new creature who had my DNA. Oh my god. And there she was, and she already knew me."
Roberts, who has been sober since 1995, described the period of estrangement from his daughter as "the toughest period of my life." He expressed a lingering sadness over what he believes were misunderstandings between them.
"There's not a pain, there's a sadness for the, most likely, misunderstandings I'll have forever," he said in a separate 2024 interview. "Because we're human."
The actor revealed that the birth of his grandchildren has helped him gain perspective on his relationship with Emma. His oldest granddaughter, he noted, "looks like Emma," creating a new connection between them.
Throughout the interviews, Roberts consistently emphasized his pride in his daughter's accomplishments and his enduring affection for her, despite the complexities of their journey as father and daughter.