Emma Roberts celebrated her marriage to actor Cody John with a private ceremony in Idaho surrounded by close friends and a number of Hollywood stars, including Julia Roberts, Kristen Stewart, and Demi Moore. While the guest list featured several familiar faces, one person was noticeably absent — Emma’s father, actor Eric Roberts.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Eric was never invited to the wedding because of the long-standing estrangement between him and his daughter.
“Emma had no interest in having her father there,” an insider shared. “Everyone around her understands how sensitive the situation is, so nobody pressured her to reconsider. She has spent years carrying the pain of growing up without his support, and she feels he was never truly present during her childhood.”
Eric has not criticized his daughter’s decision. Instead, he publicly expressed his love for Emma, saying he was simply happy to see her celebrate her marriage on her own terms and surrounded by the people she chose to be with.
The veteran actor has openly acknowledged his mistakes as a parent. In his 2024 memoir, he admitted that he left Emma’s life when she was only seven months old because he couldn’t cope with the responsibilities of fatherhood.
“I wasn’t prepared for the reality of raising a child,” he wrote. “My struggle with drug addiction ultimately cost me my relationship with Emma, and that’s the greatest regret of my life.”
Emma was primarily raised by her mother, Kelly Cunningham, while her acting career began at a young age. After appearing alongside Johnny Depp in Blow at just ten years old, she quickly established herself in Hollywood.
Sources claim that Emma’s rapid rise to fame through projects such as Aquamarine and Nancy Drew only intensified the distance between father and daughter. As Eric’s career slowed, people close to the family say he began comparing himself to Emma, allowing professional jealousy and personal pride to damage their relationship even further. Around ten years ago, Emma reportedly ended all communication with him, and the two have remained estranged ever since. Eric is also believed to have little or no contact with his five-year-old grandson, Rhodes.
Emma’s relationship with her aunt Julia Roberts wasn’t always especially close, either. Despite being one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Julia reportedly refused to use her influence to advance Emma’s early career.
According to another source, the decision reflected Julia’s personal philosophy rather than family conflict. She has long believed that every actor should earn success independently instead of benefiting from family connections.
In the years that followed, however, their bond grew significantly stronger. Julia gradually welcomed Emma into more family occasions, and today the two reportedly share a warm relationship, making Julia’s attendance at the wedding completely expected.
Eric’s relationship with his younger sister remains far more complicated. In 2018, he stirred controversy by suggesting that Julia Roberts might never have become a star without his influence. He later walked back those comments, publicly apologizing and admitting they were driven by wounded pride, describing them as one of the biggest mistakes he had ever made.