Demi Moore Reflects on Cherishing Moments with Bruce Willis Amid His Dementia Battle
(Mubi)
Demi Moore has opened up about her journey with her ex-husband Bruce Willis, who was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) over two years ago. The actress, who shares three daughters—Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah—with Willis, spoke candidly about how they navigate this challenging time as a family, focusing on the importance of cherishing each moment together.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, Demi shared her approach to interacting with Bruce. “What I say to my kids is you meet them where they’re at. You don’t hold on to who they were or what you want them to be, but who they are in this moment. And from that, there is such beauty and joy and loving and sweetness,” she explained.
Demi emphasized how much she treasures the time they spend together, revealing, “When I’m in L.A., I go over every week, and I really treasure the time that we all share.”
Their daughter Tallulah has also spoken about the importance of raising awareness around FTD, a rare form of dementia that her father has been battling. “What’s going on with my dad is that he has a really aggressive cognitive disease, a form of dementia that is very rare,” she shared.
Tallulah underscored the family’s decision to be open about Bruce’s condition, saying, “It’s twofold. On one hand, it’s who we are as a family, but also it’s really important to spread awareness about FTD because we had no idea.”
She further expressed how the family hopes to use their experience to help others. “If we can take something that we’re struggling with as a family and individually to help other people, to turn it around, to make something really beautiful out of it, then that’s really special for us,” she said.
Tallulah also shared how exploring her father’s belongings has been a source of healing for her. “Part of what’s been really beautiful for me to heal through this is becoming like an archaeologist to my dad’s stuff, his world, and his little trinkets,” she reflected.
Bruce Willis’ family announced his retirement from acting in 2022 due to aphasia, which later progressed into a dementia diagnosis. Despite the challenges, the family continues to focus on supporting Bruce and spreading awareness about FTD.
