Eric Roberts has described his relationship with daughter Emma Roberts as complex. On April 5, during an episode of Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson, he remarked that the difficulties stem largely from external perceptions, explaining that others don’t fully understand their dynamic and form their own interpretations. He emphasized, “It’s only complicated through outside eyes,” while expressing pride in Emma’s accomplishments, saying, “I’m so proud of my kid.”
Reflecting on his past, Eric candidly admitted he was emotionally unreliable during Emma’s early years, calling himself a “wash rag” and a “car wreck” at the time. He now accepts full responsibility for those shortcomings. Despite the challenges they faced, Eric often recalls the profound impact Emma’s birth had on his life. He vividly remembered how the newborn Emma was “screaming her head off” until he began singing “Happy Birthday”—a song he had also sung to her while her mother, Kelly, was pregnant. This calmed her instantly, and she tried to locate his face with her “little blind eyes.”
He described this as one of the most complete moments of his life, marveling at the connection with a new life that shared his DNA. “She tried to find me. It was magic. And I’ll always have that,” Eric said.
In a significant development, Eric has openly discussed the pain caused by the strained relationship, calling the “loss of relationship with my daughter” the hardest period of his life. He acknowledged that misunderstandings between them are likely to persist, attributing this to their human nature.
Having been sober since 1995, Eric shared that becoming a grandfather brought new insight into his feelings of sadness regarding Emma. Emma, now 35, shares a five-year-old son, Rhodes Robert Hedlund, with her ex Garrett Hedlund. Eric also has two other grandchildren through his stepchildren with his wife, Eliza Roberts, noting that his oldest granddaughter resembles Emma.
Notably, Eric denied any bad blood with Emma, who is known for her role in American Horror Story. He acknowledged the emotional challenges he faced as a father, especially since he was struggling with drug abuse when Emma was born. This honest reflection sheds light on the complexities of their father-daughter relationship and Eric’s journey toward healing and acceptance.
