Emma Roberts’ dad Eric describes himself as ‘car wreck’ when she was born as he addresses ‘complicated’ relationship

Eric Roberts will always be his daughter Emma Roberts biggest supporter — and own up to his mistakes in raising her.

The Runaway Train actor has long been candid about his rocky fatherhood journey, having been struggling with drug addiction just as the American Horror Story actress was born.

He welcomed Emma with Kelly Cunningham in 1991, shortly after which the former couple were engaged in a bitter custody battle.

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Eric, speaking on the April 5 episode of Really Famous With Kara Mayer Robinson, maintained that his and Emma’s relationship is “only complicated through outside eyes … because they don’t get any of it. So, they have their own take, whatever that is.”

Still, he didn’t shy away from owning up to his shortcomings when Emma was born. Describing himself as a “car wreck” at the time, he said he now takes “full responsibility for it.”

“I was a wash rag,” he recalled, confessing: “I was not to be depended on emotionally whatsoever because I was a car wreck.”

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However challenging his life was at the moment though, he still finds the moment Emma was born as unforgettable. Remembering her “screaming her head off,” he said he decided to sing her “Happy Birthday” to calm her down.

“She stopped screaming and tried to find my face with her little blind eyes,” he shared, adding: “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.”

“She tried to find me,” Eric continued,” emphasizing: “It was magic. And I’ll always have that,” while reiterating the pride he has for his daughter.

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Eric, 69, has been married to Eliza Roberts (née Garrett) since 1992; Emma is his only child.

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He has also been candid about his relationship with his sister Julia Roberts, the two having been estranged leading up to and after the birth of Emma. At the time, it was reported that Julia, who by Eric’s own admission had already grown distant from him because of his addiction, helped Kelly through the legal battle and in getting a custody lawyer, further straining the siblings’ relationship.

Speaking about it with Vanity Fair in 2018, he shared: “I wouldn’t characterize it as a falling-out,” before maintaining: “I was crazy about my sisters. Loved them, adored them. They were precious to me, and we had times of great closeness. We all felt very protective of each other, but the hardest person to protect yourself from is yourself.”