Emma Heming Willis (50) Calls Bruce Willis (71) a Legend in Moving World Ftd Awareness Week Tribute
For many families, World FTD Awareness Week is a time to share stories that often go untold, and Emma Heming Willis has once again used her platform to do exactly that. This year’s awareness week runs from Monday, September 28, to Sunday, October 4, and the model and advocate has been sharing multiple posts throughout the week to shine a light on frontotemporal dementia.
Her advocacy is deeply personal. In March 2022, the family revealed that Bruce Willis had been diagnosed with aphasia, which affected his cognitive abilities and led him to step away from acting, and in February 2023, they shared that his condition had progressed to a more specific diagnosis of FTD.
Now Emma has shared one of her most heartfelt tributes yet. On October 1, she posted a rare photo of the ‘Die Hard’ star on Instagram, calling her husband a legend with a colorful expletive for emphasis and declaring that she is so proud to be his wife.
The photo shows Bruce wearing a bucket hat and a white T-shirt featuring graphics designed by one of his younger children. In the caption, Emma explained that she couldn’t let World FTD Awareness Week pass without talking about him.
She described Bruce as the driving force behind her advocacy, saying he has opened countless doors for her in this work and that she intends to keep walking through them. Emma also vowed not to let his diagnosis be in vain.
According to Emma, Bruce would be proud to know that he is helping families living with FTD, other forms of dementia, and their care partners feel seen and heard. She added that in this new chapter of his life, he continues to build on his legacy.
The post quickly drew support from Bruce’s family. Scout Willis, his daughter with ex-wife Demi Moore, left a comment telling Emma how proud she was of her and how much she loves her.
That kind of family solidarity has been a constant throughout Bruce’s journey. Back in 2023, Scout and her sister Tallulah publicly praised Emma for stepping into the spotlight to share the family’s story during her first interview since the diagnosis, which aired on TODAY with Hoda Kotb during that year’s World FTD Awareness Week.
Emma, who has been married to Bruce since 2009, shares 2 daughters with him, Mabel and Evelyn. Bruce also shares Rumer, Scout and Tallulah with Moore, and Rumer gave her own update on her father’s health in late August.
Emma has been increasingly vocal about changing how people talk about the disease. In an interview with ‘Because We Care with Richard Lui’, she reflected on the many beautiful moments of joy and connection the family still shares, arguing that the narrative around dementia is too often a negative one.
She explained that when dementia is hidden away or avoided, both the person living with it and their caregivers end up unseen and unsupported. Emma has also discussed anosognosia, a neurological condition that can accompany FTD and other dementias, in which the brain is unable to recognize what is happening to it.
FTD can bring speech difficulties, trouble with motor skills like walking, and changes in behavior and personality. By speaking openly, Emma hopes more families recognize those signs and seek support.
Her work has extended well beyond social media. In March, Emma launched the Emma & Bruce Willis Fund to support FTD research and caregivers, turning her family’s experience into tangible help for others.
When accepting an award on behalf of herself and Bruce, she said the journey had opened her eyes to the realities so many families face. She also noted that Bruce has always led with generosity and heart, and that he would be proud to see the effort helping families facing the disease.
At 50, Emma continues to balance caregiving with advocacy, and her latest tribute shows that her love and admiration for the 71-year-old actor remain as strong as ever.
How has Emma Heming Willis’ openness about Bruce Willis’ FTD journey affected you?
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