Julia Roberts marked her 59th birthday with a rare family photograph shared by her niece, Emma Roberts. The image, posted on Emma's Instagram, shows the aunt and niece embracing. Emma captioned the photo, "happy birthday Aunt Julia, i love you beyond!!"
The photograph appears to have been taken during Emma Roberts' wedding rehearsal dinner in July. Emma wore a white dress, while Julia sported a white blouse, olive green pants, and a Louis Vuitton purse.
This family moment comes four months after Emma's wedding to Cody John, an event her father, actor Eric Roberts, did not attend. Sources told Daily Mail that Emma did not invite her father due to years of friction and his perceived lack of support as a parent.
Eric Roberts has spoken candidly about his past struggles with substance addiction and admitted to not being an emotionally dependable father. He previously described his relationship with Emma as "complicated" to outsiders, though he expressed pride in her accomplishments.
Emma Roberts exchanged vows in Idaho, with Julia Roberts and her husband Danny Moder among the attendees, alongside celebrities like Demi Moore, Kristen Stewart, and Sarah Paulson. Her son, Rhodes, five, walked her down the aisle. Eric Roberts stated in a message to Daily Mail that he loves his daughter and supports her celebrating "however she wants, with whomever she wants."
In his memoir, "Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far," Eric Roberts addressed his relationship with his daughter, calling it "indefinable" and expressing sadness over potential misunderstandings. He noted that becoming a grandfather, particularly to his granddaughter who resembles Emma, has highlighted what he feels he has missed in his relationship with her.
Eric Roberts also addressed past tensions with his sister, Julia Roberts. He apologized in his memoir for a comment he made in the early 1990s suggesting his success preceded hers. He has since stated that he and Julia are "fine" and maintain a close bond, though they "don't agree about a lot of things." He believes the primary cause of estrangement with both his sisters, Julia and Lisa, was his past drug addiction.
Roberts recounted that he and Julia reunited in 2004 when she had twins, Hazel and Phinnaeus. He described being welcomed into their room and experiencing "brotherly and uncle-ly love." The siblings have since spent holidays together and maintained contact via email. In 2020, Eric Roberts expressed his fondness for seeing the bond between Julia and Emma.