On September 25, 2023, Emma Heming Willis appeared on Today to bring awareness to frontotemporal dementia, the disease her husband Bruce Willis was diagnosed with this year. She updated viewers on the struggles of living with this disease but also shared the beauty and resilience of her family.
That same day, her stepdaughter, Scout Willis, took to Instagram to sing her stepmom’s praises. Bruce shares three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore in addition to the two daughters he shares with Emma.
“I truly could not be more proud of @emmahemingwillis for being willing to step out into the public eye, (even though it’s terrifying!!!) to share our family’s story in service of spreading awareness about FTD,” Scout gushed. “Emma you are such a champion for this cause and you inspire me every single [expletive] day with your bravery and deep deep loving. Your courage is moving mountains #ftd #ftdawareness.”
Scout’s sister, Tallulah Willis, also got in on the action. She shared Scout's post and added her own sentiments. "So proud of my family," she wrote.
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Emma was not afraid to tell the hard truths about the realities of the disease on the program. “Dementia is hard,” she stated. “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. When they say this is a family disease, it really is.”
She was also able to find the light. “Listen, I think my kids would be great no matter what and this is not what I would want for them,” she mused. “But really, like I said, it’s teaching them so much — how to care and love — and it’s really a beautiful thing amongst the sadness.”
