Emma Heming Willis recently spoke with the hosts of the Today Show, where she gave an update on her husband’s dementia diagnosis, saying its “hard to know” if he is aware of his condition. In March 2022, Bruce Willis’ family announced that the actor would be stepping away from acting after he was diagnosed with aphasia. Since then, his condition has developed into frontotemporal dementia, where his wife, Emma, has been vocal about gaining awareness for the illness. This week, she appeared on the Today Show, where she gave more insight into Bruce’s diagnosis. “What I’m learning is that dementia is hard. It’s hard on the person diagnosed. It’s also hard on the family. And that is no different for Bruce or myself or our girls,” Heming shared. “And when they say that this is a ‘family disease,’ it really is.”
Hemming and Willis tied the knot in 2009 and share two young daughters together: Mabel, 11, and Evelyn, 9. When asked about how their girls are handling their father’s illness and if they are fully aware of what is happening, Heming said, “We’re a very honest and open household. The most important thing was … to say what the disease was. Explain what it is because when you know what the disease is from a medical standpoint, it sort of all makes sense.” She added, “So, it was important that we let them know what it is because, you know, I don’t want there to be any stigma or shame attached to their dad’s diagnosis or for any form of dementia.” Heming spoke about what it’s like for her daughters to grow up with an ill father, saying “This is not what I would want for them. It’s teaching them so much – in how to care and love. It’s a beautiful thing amongst the sadness.”
Having a diagnosis was a “blessing and a curse” for Heming. “To sort of finally understand what was happening, so I could be into the acceptance of what is. It doesn’t make it any less painful, but just being in the acceptance … and just being in the know of what is happening to Bruce, just makes it a little bit easier.”
Bruce also has three daughters whom he shares with ex-wife Demi Moore: Rumer, 35, Scout, 32 and Tallulah, 29. The blended family has remained close and has been nothing but a solid support system for Bruce throughout his ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia.