In a recent interview with Gayle King for the History Channel's “HISTORYTalks” series, Julia Roberts shared a remarkable story about her birth.
It turns out that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, actually paid for her parents' hospital bill after she was born.
Roberts opened up about this unexpected connection to the historical figures during the September interview.
She revealed, “The King family paid for my hospital bills.”
Gayle King, who shares the same surname as the civil rights leader, jokingly interjected, “Not my family!
Martin Luther King Jr.”
It's Julia Roberts' birthday today!
And 55 years ago, on this day, MLK and Coretta Scott King generously covered her parents' hospital bill.
This revelation has been circulating since it was shared by Zara Rahim, a business adviser.
In the tweet, she included a video of Roberts discussing the incident with Gayle King.
Roberts explained that her parents, Walter and Betty Lou Roberts, owned a theater school in Atlanta called the Actors and Writers Workshop.
Coretta Scott King reached out to them, seeking enrollment for her children, as they were facing difficulty finding other institutions that would accept them.
“So, they just all became friends and they helped us out of a jam,” Roberts shared.
She was born on October 28, 1967, and recently celebrated her 55th birthday.
Gayle King, who co-hosts “CBS Mornings,” remarked, “Yeah, because in the '60s you didn't have little Black children interacting with little White kids in acting school.
And your parents were like, ‘Come on in.'
And I think that's extraordinary and it lays the groundwork for who you are.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a native of Atlanta, rose to prominence as one of the most influential civil rights leaders in the United States.
Through nonviolent protests, he played a pivotal role in advancing the rights of people of color.
Tragically, less than six months after Roberts' birth, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, which led to a day of national mourning.
The interview gained viral attention when Zara Rahim, the business adviser, tweeted a clip to celebrate Julia Roberts' recent birthday.
Bernice King, the youngest daughter of Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr., also shared a clip of the interview on Sunday.
She expressed her gratitude for Roberts sharing the story and noted how many people were moved by it.
Bernice added, “I know the story well, but it is moving for me to be reminded of my parents' generosity and influence.”
The “HISTORYTalks” series began in 2019 and features live talks with prominent speakers each year.
This year's lineup included former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush, and George and Amal Clooney.
