Without Her Father, but With Julia Roberts: The Secrets Behind the Family Conflict at Emma Roberts’ Wedding

The wedding of 35-year-old Emma Roberts and 36-year-old Cody John—held in picturesque Idaho surrounded by star-studded guests led by Julia Roberts, Kristen Stewart, and Demi Moore—was overshadowed by one detail. The bride's father, 70-year-old actor Eric Roberts, was absent from the ceremony.

As reported by Daily Mail, the reason behind Eric’s absence is Emma’s deep, long-standing resentment that has lasted for decades. "Emma didn’t invite her father because she simply doesn’t want to be around him," a source revealed. "No one even tried to persuade her; everyone knows this topic is better left untouched. She’s been angry with him for years: he wasn’t supportive and was completely absent during her upbringing when she was little."

For his part, Eric Roberts commented on the situation with restraint, stating that he loves his daughter and is genuinely happy that she is "celebrating the way she wants and with whom she wants."

Addiction, an Abandoned Child, and Professional Jealousy

Eric himself has repeatedly admitted to his mistakes. In his 2024 memoir, he candidly wrote that he "abandoned" Emma when she was just seven months old: "I couldn’t cope with the reality of having a infant in my life and simply wasn’t up to the role of a parent. The most horrific consequence of my drug addiction was losing Emma."

Emma’s mother, Kelly Cunningham, took on full responsibility for raising her. When 10-year-old Emma landed a role in the film Blow alongside Johnny Depp, her career quickly took off. However, the young actress's success only strained her relationship with her father further.

According to insiders, as Emma’s popularity grew (following films like Aquamarine and Nancy Drew), demand for Eric as an actor waned. The actor’s "ego kicked in," leading him to quietly compete with his own daughter. About ten years ago, Emma cut off all contact with her father for good and has been unable to forgive him. Eric also has no relationship with his 5-year-old grandson, Rhodes.

A Complex Bond with Aunt Julia: The "No Handouts" Rule

Emma’s relationship with her famous aunt, 58-year-old Julia Roberts, wasn’t always easy either. At the start of her niece’s career, the Pretty Woman star strictly refused to help her out. "It wasn’t personal," a second source explained. "Julia has a strict rule: no career handouts for anyone. She believes you have to achieve everything on your own."

Nevertheless, over the past 15 years, the two have grown very close, with Julia frequently inviting Emma to family events—making her presence at the wedding no surprise to anyone.

Meanwhile, the relationship between the siblings themselves (Eric and Julia) remains chilly. Back in 2018, Eric went so far as to claim that "if it weren't for him, there would be no actress named Julia Roberts." He later publicly apologized to his sister, calling his statement "a stupid thing to say, fueled by wounded pride."