Julia Roberts Half Sister Underwent Weight Loss Surgery After Actress' Weight Criticisms
Nancy Motes, the half sister of Julia Roberts, recently opened up about growing up with the Hollywood actress whose weight criticisms ultimately pushed her to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
The 37-year-old "Glee" production assistant claims Roberts, 45, would often make derogatory comments about her weight when they were both younger. Motes, who is daughter of Roberts' mother Betty Lou and stepfather Michael Motes, also opened up about her constant battle with obesity and depression in an interview with the New York Daily News.
"When I was in high school and she was an adult, she would just let me know that I was definitely overweight," Motes told the NY Daily News.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"She would make it quite clear to me and in a not-so-nice a manner. It just makes me feel incredibly hurt and very sad," she added.
Motes claims that she was often discouraged by Roberts when it came to pursuing her dreams to become an actress.
"Julia did not want to see me go down that path," Motes said. "Mostly because I was overweight. My weight has fluctuated my entire life. So I just got a lot of criticism from Julia, which was very discouraging for me."
Motes, who once tipped the scales at 300 pounds, admitted that she turned to gastric bypass surgery in June 2010 in a bid to lose weight. She now weighs 155 pounds and hopes that she and the "Pretty Woman" actress can move forward by putting their past behind them.
"I think we're both trying to change our opinions of each other," Motes said. "It's a work in progress. It's not going to be fixed overnight, nor do I think it's going to be fixed at this point by me just getting skinny."
Roberts is yet to respond to Motes' claims however she previously shared her views on outward beauty in 2012. The actress revealed that happiness is ultimate what makes a person "beautiful."
"I think optimism and having a sense of humor definitely help, but happiness is something you cultivate," Roberts previously told Mail Online.
"Once you find it, that's the key to looking beautiful. That, Lancôme eye cream and kissing!" she quipped.
