Emma Heming Willis revealed Scout Willis expressed concern for her stepmother amid her dad Bruce Willis‘ battle with frontotemporal dementia.
In Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special, Moore, Heming Willis opened up about her husband Bruce’s health journey and also revealed the toll it took on her and her family. (Heming Willis and Bruce share daughters Mabel Ray Willis, 13, and Evelyn Penn Willis, 11.)
Heming Willis, 47, said that once she learned that noise can cause agitation for those suffering with frontotemporal dementia, she no longer allowed Mabel and Evelyn to have playdates or sleepovers at their house. “I didn’t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their kid at our home,” she explained in the ABC special, which aired on Tuesday, August 26. “I isolated our whole family and that was by design. … that was a hard time.”
It was around that time that Heming Willis said Bruce’s daughter Scout told her, “I’m more worried about you than I am about my dad.” After that, Heming Willis said she was treated for depression and hired a team of caretakers to care for Bruce amid his health battle.
Emma Heming and Bruce Willis’ Doc: Questioning Their Marriage and More
Prior to marrying Heming Willis in 2009, Bruce was married to actress Demi Moore from 1987 to 2000. They share three daughters: Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31.
Though they ended their marriage more than 20 years ago, Moore and Bruce have remained close over the years. She often shares photos while spending time with her ex and their daughters in posts via Instagram.
“Quality time with our BW… Who was feeling the love! Keep it pouring in! 
,” Moore, 62, captioned a series of photos via Instagram with Bruce and Tallulah in March for his birthday.
Scout shared a heartfelt birthday tribute for her dad via Instagram as well. “I cried a lot this morning, because I’m a baddie and grief is non linear and I am so full of love. Grief it’s the price I pay to get to feel this depth of love and I would never give my grief away,” she shared.
“I’m in Nashville making a record right now and Im just so deeply aware that the music i make is a direct result of the musical education my dad made sure I got, Because it was his absolute joy to share what he loved with me,” Scout continued. “Every time I smirk and audaciously ask for more and every time I feel so fucking insatiable that I want to devour the entire world because I am so GODDAMN in love with life, I am my father’s child. I’m so full of feeling today and just extending this massive Love to anyone feeling deeply today. Enjoy this vine I made of my dad in 2014.”
As for Heming Willis, she shared details about her experience with Bruce’s health battle in the ABC special. She revealed how she first recognized changes in her husband’s behavior leading up to his diagnosis.
Demi Moore Sends Message to Families Affected by Dementia
“For someone who is very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet,” Heming Willis said. “And when the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit.”
She added, “It felt a little removed, very cold, not like Bruce, who was very warm and affectionate. To go in the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
