Bruce Willis’ wife Emma hits back at backlash after revealing he no longer lives in family home
Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, has responded to the backlash she's faced online after revealing that he no longer lives in the family home following his dementia diagnosis.
For those not up to date, it was shared in 2023 that the retired American actor, 70, had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which, as per the NHS, iis a rare type of the condition that affects the front and sides of a person's brain, impacting their language abilities and behaviour.
It came after the 2022 news that the Die Hard star had aphasia - a different health condition that affects a person's communication skills and cognitive abilities.
And now, to raise awareness of frontotemporal dementia, Emma, 47, was interviewed by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America on Tuesday (26 August) for a special called Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey.
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Emma and Bruce tied the knot back in 2009 and the couple share two daughters together - Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
But during the episode, Emma emotionally shared that 'one of the hardest decisions' she had to make was moving Bruce into a second, one-storey home where he could receive around-the-clock care.
It came after she had to start isolating their family unit because noise could cause Bruce agitation.
"I didn’t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their kid at our home," she said in the episode, "I isolated our whole family, and that was by design... That was a hard time."
Although they no longer reside under the same roof, the husband and wife eat breakfast and dinner together every day.
She explained: "I knew, first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters. He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs."
Emma later added: "We’re there a lot. It’s our second home, so the girls have their things there.
"It is, you know, a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter. It's been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, you know, they bring in life and fun."
Since the interview aired, Emma has unfortunately been cruelly criticised for the decision online, with people attacking her due to the family's living arrangements.
The actress has now spoken up on the matter and hit back at the trolls with a video on Instagram, where she explains that 'too often, caregivers are judged quickly and unfairly by those who haven’t lived this journey'.
In the clip, she praised the Diane Sawyer special for doing 'a beautiful job with amplifying FTD awareness, as well as shining a spotlight onto caregivers'.
However, she then went on to explain: "What I knew is that by sharing some of our intimate information is that we would see these two camps, right. It would be people with an opinion versus people with an actual experience.
"And it's been a perfect example to see in the comments section that I knew would happen is that people with an opinion and how quick they are to judge the caregiver. And that is what caregivers are up against - judgement from others and criticism from others."
Emma admitted: "When I went to bed that night after watching the Diane Sawyer special I had to revisit this section in my book which is titled 'opinion versus experience'.
"Everyone will have an opinion but you have to remind yourself that most don't have the experience to back it up. And if that's the case, they shouldn't offer their two cents about it and you shouldn't pay them any mind."
She concluded: "Even if someone is closely familiar with dementia or the condition you're caring for, they aren't in your home so they don't know how your person is behaving or your family dynamics.
"The truth is that the opinions are so loud and they're so noisy. But if they don't have the experience of this, they don't get a say and they definitely don't get a vote."
Fans have rushed to the comments of the video to praise the star, thanking her for her 'vulnerability'.
One social media user wrote: "So proud you are stepping out and stepping up. I loved how you framed it.
"There will always be opinions and you are rising beyond the noise for those who are caregiving 24 hours a day. We’re all holding you in our hearts and grateful for your voice."
While a second added: "Emma you are a champion and I admire you" and a third agreed: "You are so right Emma. People don’t get a vote or a say! People do not know what is happening in your home."
If you've been affected by dementia or Alzheimer's and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact the Alzheimer’s Society via 0333 150 3456 or visit their website for more information.
Topics: Celebrity, Health, Instagram, Social Media, Bruce Willis
Madison Burgess