Emma Heming, the wife of actor Bruce Willis, pushed back on a report that stated the actor had ‘no more joy’ in his life amid his health battle with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.
Heming, 45, said in a pair of Instagram posts on Sunday that the 68-year-old Hollywood stalwart continues to have joy in his life, criticizing the report, and suggesting the public take a more nuanced look at the quality of life people can continue to have amid struggles with neurocognitive diseases.
Heming, who shares daughters Mabel Ray, 11, and Evelyn, nine, with the Die Hard actor, said in a clip on her Instagram page, ‘The headline basically says there is no more joy in my husband – now, I can just tell you, that is far from the truth.
‘I need society and whoever’s writing these stupid headlines to stop scaring people.’
The one-time model, who has a skincare company called CocoBaba and a wellness organization called Make Time Wellness, said that the perception of the public and the media in regards to neurocognitive diseases needs to shift.
Emma Heming Willis, 45, the wife of actor Bruce Willis, 68, pushed back on a report that stated he had ‘no more joy’ in his life amid his health battle with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia
The couple, who celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary this month, were pictured in a romantic shot on Valentine’s Day
‘Stop scaring people to think that once they get a diagnosis of some kind of neurocognitive disease that – “That’s it, it’s over, let’s pack it up, nothing else to see here, we’re done” – no, it’s the complete opposite of that,’ she said.
Heming said that while the health battle has brought ‘a lot of … grief and sadness’ to her family, there is also love, connection, joy and happiness.
She wrapped up in saying, ‘So stop with these stupid headlines … there’s nothing to see here, okay?’
In the caption of the post, Heming said that her ‘experience is that two things can be true and exist at the same time.’
Heming provided contrasting examples including ‘grief and deep love,’ ‘sadness and deep connection,’ and ‘trauma and resilience.’
She opened up about how she came to her thought process in the caption of the post.
‘I had to get out of my own way to get here but once I arrived, life really started to come together with meaning and I had a true sense of purpose,’ Heming said. ‘There is so much beauty and soulfulness in this story.’
Heming said that she’s come to understand that ‘people that have not taken the time to properly educate themselves on any kind of neurocognitive disease’ based on the ‘headline after headline and blurbs of misinformation’ she’s seen on the topic.
Heming suggested the public take a more nuanced look at the quality of life people can continue to have amid struggles with neurocognitive diseases
Heming said it was ‘far from the truth’ that the action film star had no more joy in his life
In a follow-up post, Heming detailed that that the headlines were discouraging to the people providing care for people living with dementia
In a follow-up post, Heming detailed that that the headlines were discouraging to the people providing care for people living with dementia.
‘Care partners are already having a tough go in the support department,’ Heming said. ‘These headlines that paint this constant doom and gloom picture of dementia are harmful to them as they try to build their support unit around them. Or could sway a person who is wanting to help, the other way.
‘I just ask you to consider reframing this negative narrative around dementia. That would be so kind and generous to the next care partner and their loved one.’
It’s been nearly two years since Heming released a joint statement via Instagram with her two daughters and Willis’s ex-wife Demi Moore, 61, and daughters Rumer, 35, Scout, 32, Tallulah, 30, announcing that Willis was stepping back from acting amid his aphasia diagnosis.
In the March 30, 2022 statement, they said that Willis ‘has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities.
‘As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him. This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support.’
They continued: ‘We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do just that.’