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The Daily Mirror reports that Julia Roberts’ mom, Betty Roberts, filed for divorce in 1983, “citing cruel treatment.” She allegedly called her marriage to Michael Motes “the biggest mistake I ever made.” It certainly appears to have been in stark contrast to her first marriage. Betty and Julia’s dad, Walter Grady Roberts, had been civil rights trailblazers of their time.
Before they split, the couple lived in Atlanta. According to The New York Times, thanks to Jim Crow laws, Atlanta was still profoundly segregated during the 1970s. However, despite the rampant discrimination, Betty and Walter opened an acting studio that allowed students of all races. It ultimately led to Julia’s little-known connection to Martin Luther King Jr.
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In celebration of the star’s 55th birthday, Zara Rahim tweeted a clip of an interview between Julia and Gayle King. In it, the actor explained how she’s linked to the civil rights icon. “One day, Coretta Scott King called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids,” Julia shared. Betty immediately said yes, leading to a friendship between the two women. And they became very close because when Betty and Walter were too broke to pay the hospital bill for Julia’s birth, Dr. King and Coretta stepped up to the plate. “They helped us out of a jam,” Julia admitted.
