Emma Heming Willis, wife of Hollywood icon Bruce Willis, is speaking out in a bold and emotional response to criticism she received after opening up about her family’s journey with dementia.
The 47-year-old wellness advocate, who has been caring for the Die Hard actor following his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis, posted a heartfelt Instagram video on August 29. In it, she addressed the flood of reactions to her recent sit-down interview with Diane Sawyer for the ABC News special Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey.
During the special, Heming revealed that Willis, 70, now lives in a separate, specially designed home near the family residence to ensure his safety and comfort while receiving 24/7 professional care. The revelation sparked an outpouring of both sympathy and judgment online — something Heming said she expected.
“What I knew is that by sharing some of our intimate information we would see these two camps. It would be people with an opinion versus people with an actual experience,” she explained in her video.
Calling Out the “Loud Opinions”
Heming admitted that she anticipated a wave of judgment, especially directed at her role as a caregiver.
“That is what caregivers are up against — judgment from others and criticism from others,” she said.
Quoting her forthcoming book, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path (to be released Sept. 9), Heming reminded followers that outsiders rarely see the full picture:
“Even if someone is closely familiar with dementia or the condition you are caring for, they aren’t in your home, so they don’t know how your person is behaving or your family dynamics.”
In her Instagram caption, Heming doubled down, saying caregivers are “judged quickly and unfairly by those who haven’t lived this journey or stood on the front lines of it.”
Still, she stressed that sharing openly is more valuable than staying silent.
“Sharing openly may invite opinions, but more importantly, it creates connection and validation for those actually navigating the realities of caregiving every day,” she wrote.
Why Bruce Willis Lives in a Separate Home
In her ABC interview, Heming revealed for the first time that Bruce was moved into a nearby single-story home “some time ago.” The home is designed to make life safer and easier for both him and his care team.
She admitted that as her husband’s dementia progressed, she began isolating the family to reduce stressors — including canceling her daughters’ playdates and sleepovers.
“Noise could aggravate Bruce’s condition,” she explained. “I didn’t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their kid at our home. I isolated our whole family, and that was by design. That was a hard time.”
Despite living separately, the family remains deeply connected.
“We’re there a lot,” Heming said, noting she and their daughters visit daily for meals. “It’s our second home, so the girls have their things there.”
Holding On to Connection With Bruce
Though his FTD has limited his speech and communication, Heming insists that Bruce is still very present.
“Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall. It’s just his brain that is failing him,”. “We’ve learned to adapt. We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different way.”
A Family’s Ongoing Journey
Emma Heming married Bruce Willis in 2009, and the couple share two daughters — Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11. Bruce also has three adult daughters — Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah — with ex-wife Demi Moore.
Willis’ family announced his aphasia diagnosis in 2022, followed by his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in early 2023. Since then, his loved ones have worked together to raise awareness of the condition, while navigating the emotional toll of caregiving.
For Heming, the “loud opinions” don’t matter as much as reaching those who truly understand.
“If they don’t have the experience of this, they don’t get a say — and they definitely don’t get a vote,” she declared.
With her upcoming memoir and continued advocacy, Heming is determined to amplify the voices of caregivers everywhere — while reminding the world that Bruce Willis is still here, and still deeply loved.