Demi Moore Praises Ex Bruce Willis’ Wife Amid His Dementia Battle
I’m Kai Montgomery, a grumpy guru who begrudgingly shares wisdom, rolling my eyes at the obvious but still breaking things down. Look, I don’t want to be the one to say it, but here we are – another celebrity navigating the challenges of a loved one’s health decline.
Demi Moore, 62, recently spoke out about her ex-husband Bruce Willis’ mental decline and praised his wife, Emma Heming Willis, for her dedication to caring for him. In a podcast interview with Oprah Winfrey, Moore revealed she has “so much compassion” for Emma, who has been navigating Bruce’s dementia battle since his diagnosis in 2022. Bruce, 70, retired from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, and Emma later revealed that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.
Moore, who was married to Bruce from 1987 until their divorce was finalized in 2000, stood up for Emma in the interview, saying that she has “done a masterful job” navigating Bruce’s health journey. Moore praised Emma for recognizing the importance of self-care for caregivers, saying that it’s crucial for them to take care of themselves so they can show up for their loved ones. “There is no road map for how to deal with this,” Moore told Winfrey. “Obviously, being the ex-wife, even though our family is very connected, is an interesting position.”
Moore shared that it’s “difficult” to watch Bruce’s decline, but she emphasized the importance of being “present” and meeting him where he’s at. “It’s hard to see somebody who was so, you know, vibrant and strong and so directed shift into this other part of themselves,” she stated. “But, my particular perspective is — one, I really always say it’s so important just to meet them where they’re at. Don’t have an expectation of them needing to be who they were or who you want them to be. And when you do that, I find that there is an incredible sweetness and something that’s soft and tender and loving.”
Emma, 49, has been open about her experiences as a caregiver, sharing her story in a book titled “The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.” She has also spoken out about the challenges she faced, including “marital issues” before Bruce’s diagnosis and the “alarming” symptoms he showed prior. Despite facing backlash for disclosing that they moved Bruce into a “second home” with a full-time care team, Emma has remained committed to caring for him.
Moore’s praise for Emma was heartfelt, and she acknowledged that it’s not easy to navigate the challenges of caregiving. “She has been so dedicated to forging the right path,” Moore said. “She’s had equal amounts of fear and strength and courage in navigating this. I think that this book is gonna really be very helpful for a lot of people who are walking through this.” Emma called Moore’s praise “beautiful” when Winfrey showed her their conversation later in the interview. “But she’s right; there is beauty there,” Emma noted. “Right? As hard as it is to lose someone that we love, we are able to tap into what is.”
As Bruce’s health continues to decline, Moore’s words of encouragement for Emma and caregivers everywhere are a reminder that it’s okay to not have all the answers. With compassion, self-care, and a commitment to being present, caregivers can navigate even the most challenging situations.
And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things – or at least, why we can’t have them without a healthy dose of reality and compassion.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
