The Real Reason Julia Roberts And Her Brother Don't Get Along

Sibling dynamics can be tricky, and things get even more complicated when you add fame to the mix. It's hard to keep your dirty laundry private when you live in the public eye. Julia Roberts seemingly learned that the hard way after a public falling out with her older brother, actor Eric Roberts. Apparently, things started getting messy as early as 1993. In 2004, People reported that in the early '90s, Julia "sided with Eric's ex-girlfriend" in a custody battle over niece Emma Roberts. 

In a 2018 Vanity Fair interview, Eric claimed that he and Julia were actually quite close growing up. However, the trio were split up when their parents got divorced. Julia and their sister Lisa moved in with their mom, while Eric moved to Atlanta with his father.

Years later, the siblings reconnected when Julia moved to New York to find work as an actress. At the time, Eric was already making a name for himself as an up-and-coming actor. With her brother's help, Julia signed with her first agent and thus began her meteoric rise to fame. In fact, in his Vanity Fair interview, Eric noted: "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."

Julia went on to star in blockbuster hits like Pretty Woman, and Eric became an Academy Award-nominated actor. However, while Julia's stock continued to climb, Eric's career plateaued. 

While chatting with Vanity Fair in 2018, Eric Roberts opened up about his rocky relationship with his sisters, Julia and Lisa Roberts. "They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness," he said. However, his drug use created a divide. "I was exhausting to be around," Eric admitted. In addition to "alienat[ing]" his famous sister, Eric also revealed that his drug use might have affected his career. "I would go to meetings with people that mattered ... and I would go stoned." 

"Complainy, blamey, unable to enjoy enjoyment. Everyone in my world needed a break sometimes, and that must have included Julia." Eric tried to get back on track, though. Over the years, he worked to overcome his addictions before landing on Celebrity Rehab in 2010. His time with Dr. Drew seemingly did the trick. "Some of the best shows he's done, he's done since Celebrity Rehab," Eric's wife, Eliza, told Vanity Fair.

As for his relationship with Julia, it turns out that the sibling bond was strong enough to facilitate a reconciliation. The duo buried the hatchet when Julia gave birth to twins in 2004. Eric told Vanity Fair that when he visited Julia in the hospital, he was "ushered into their room and was immediately awash in brotherly and uncle-ly love." These days, the siblings spend holidays together and are "e-mail buddies," per the outlet.

It seems the actors were able to put the past behind them. Maybe time really does heal all wounds.