Porn star Emily Willis is now awake and is able to smile despite remaining in a vegetative state, according to her father.
Willis’ dad, Michael, told TMZ this week that the adult actress can also following with her eyes and that she ‘became emotional’ when her family spoke to her.
However, Michael went on to say that her family does not expect Willis to advance any further with her development.
A toxicology report found that there were no drugs in Willis’ system when she suffered a cardiac arrest at a California rehab center on February 5 that led to the coma.
He added that her family plans to take her close to her family home in St. George, Utah. The target amount for the family’s GoFundMe page has already been easily surpassed.
Earlier this month, Willis’ family denied rumors that she overdosed and said that she was in a ‘vegetative coma’ and ‘fighting for her life.’
Michael Willis, her stepfather who raised her, said she has been unresponsive for weeks but her condition has stabilized since she was first admitted
Willis’ family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for her hospital stay and recovery, which has raised $28,000
Willis family says she hasn’t regained consciousness from a month-long coma and her family has been called to say goodbyes while she survives on a ventilator
Willis was rushed from a popular celebrity rehab center in Malibu on February 5 to a medical facility in Thousand Oaks, California , after authorities received a call about the 25-year-old, who was found unresponsive
The star was rushed from a popular celebrity rehab center in Malibu on February 5 to a medical facility in Thousand Oaks, California, after authorities received a call about the 25-year-old, who was found unresponsive.
She had been staying at the facility to receive treatment for addiction, although it is unclear for what exactly and for how long.
‘Emily remains in a vegetative coma and is fighting for her life,’ Michael, who is technically her stepfather but who raised her, said in an update on a GoFundMe page for the star.
At the time, he also squashed claims that she had ‘overdosed,’ saying ‘Emily was receiving the treatment and help she needed at the time of the incident to overcome her struggles.’
‘There has been a lot of misinformation regarding our beloved Emily’s condition, and we wanted to clarify her progress and current state,’ her stepfather wrote.
He added that Willis had retired from the adult film industry almost two years ago with ‘aspirations of success in other fields of entertainment.’
The stepfather previously reported that she hasn’t regained consciousness from a month-long coma and her family was called to say goodbyes while she survives on a ventilator.
Her father is still trying to obtain a physical copy of the toxicology report that purportedly came back negative when she suffered a cardiac arrest while in rehab, according to TMZ.
Michael Willis also said that Emily was not eating much and weighed just 80 pounds when she was checked in for rehab, but said his daughter was desperate and resolute to get healthy.
She had been staying at the facility to receive treatment for addiction, although it is unclear for what exactly and for how long
The donations will go towards medical bills along with travel and accommodation for her family so they can stay with her in the hospital.
‘With hearts heavier than we ever imagined possible, we find ourselves reaching out for support and care for our beloved Emily Willis—a cherished daughter, sister, and a beacon of light in the lives of all who know her,’ her family wrote online.
‘Recently, Emily’s world, and ours, was turned upside down when she was admitted to the hospital, marking the beginning of an incredibly tough and unforeseen battle. With every ounce of her remarkable strength and bravery, Emily is fighting.
‘The path to recovery stretches far ahead of her, requiring lots of care. The weight of this position extends beyond the emotional and physical; it bears down upon us financially,’ the family explained. ‘With mounting medical bills, the necessities of travel, all while the regular flow of life’s expenses continue.
‘Every donation, no matter its size, will go directly towards easing these burdens, allowing us to devote our energy and resources to Emily’s healing. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers to give her the strength for recovery,’ the family pleaded.
The star from Argentina, who made a name for herself in the industry in 2017, had not posted on either her Instagram or TikTok in more than five months.
Willis has starred in multiple videos and collaborated with popular porn brands like Reality Kings and Evil Angel.
She has also been featured in Penthouse Magazine, won awards at the Adult Video News Awards, been featured in music videos and modeling campaigns.
According to IMDB, Willis has been nominated 15 times and has a nomination for 2024 for the Adult Video Awards for ‘Favorite Porn Star Creator.’
In recent years, she has also grown close to well-known social media stars such as David Dobrik, and has been seen in his YouTube videos.
In 2021, Willis filed a defamation suit against other porn stars and alleged that they were attacking her on social media.
She filed a $5million suit against her porn industry rivals Gianna Dior and Adria Rae.
Willis alleged the two women falsely accused her in a tweet of taking part in a video on social media that involved sex with an animal.
Willis has also won several awards for her work, including Female Performer of The Year at the 2021 AVN Awards, known as the Oscars of Porn
‘There was considerable rumor, speculation and innuendo about the identities of the performers within the industry, including on social media,’ said Willis’ suit.
‘It was a scandal, and a highly salient one, with obvious potential to destroy careers.’
The lawsuit was settled privately in 2022 with Rae issuing an apology after the settlement was reached.
‘At the time of my tweet, I relied on other information that I had seen from other sources,’ she wrote in a statement.
‘I have since come to learn that Emily was not involved. I am personally not aware of any actions taken by Emily with reference to any animals involving sexual activity,’ she added.
Rae confirmed in her statement that she did indeed apologize to Willis and things have seemingly been okay between the three women ever since.
In one of her most recent posts to Instagram, Willis promoted a new sci-fi thriller movie called Divinity that was released last October.
In the film, she played a ‘seductive woman’ alongside ‘two mysterious brothers.’
The actress, who’s had a successful career in the porn industry since 2017, has found herself in multiple controversies over the last few years
It is unclear what kind of drugs she had in her system when she was found. She is seen posing with what looks like a cigarette
TMZ reported that in 2021, Willis filed a defamation suit against other porn stars and alleged they were attacking her on social media
The science fiction film grossed more than $100,000 at the box office and also stars Disney Channel alums Moises Arias and Bella Thorne.
Willis was born Litzy Lara Banulos in Argentina on December 29, 1998. She relocated to Utah when she was seven after her mother married a man from the US.
The adult film star was raised in a Mormon household and learned teachings of the Latter-Day Saints Movement.
She later moved to California when she was a teenager and made her adult film debut in 2017 with GDP Studio.
Since her 2017 debut, Willis has appeared in more than 700 films throughout her career.
She’s collaborated with porn brands such as Reality King and Evil Angel, and was even featured in Penthouse Magazine.
Willis was born Litzy Lara Banulos in Argentina on December 29, 1998. The adult film star was raised in a Mormon household and learned teachings of the Latter-Day Saints Movement
Willia had been at a celebrity rehab facility in Malibu to receive treatment for addiction, but it is unclear how long she had been there
The star promoted one of her more recent films on her Instagram back in October 2023 called DIVINITY, which was released nationwide in 2023. The science fiction film grossed more than $100,000 at the box office and also stars Disney Channel alums Moises Arias and Bella Thorne
The porn star filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit in 2021 against her porn industry rivals Gianna Dior and Adria Rae
Willis has also won several awards for her work, including Female Performer of The Year at the 2021 AVN Awards, known as the Oscars of Porn.
She has also participated in several online interviews and she even spoke about her parents’ reaction to her porn career in an episode of PlugTalk in 2021.
‘They thought it would be a one-time thing and that I would be done,’ said Willis. ‘It was rough at first. They didn’t talk to me for like two months.’
Willis later confirmed that her parents could see that she was being responsible and wasn’t ‘partying or being crazy.’
‘They started opening up to me again and now we are super close,’ Willis stated.