Silke Jasso
Emma Heming Willis, the wife of Bruce Willis, is begging the paparazzi to refrain from shouting at the Die Hard actor as well as maintain a distance when encountering him in public. Heming Willis shared a heartfelt message on her very own Instagram account, saying that more knowledge is necessary regarding those living with dementia.
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She recalled an upsetting encounter with photographers who tried to communicate with the actor when while he was having coffee with some friends in Santa Monica. She revaled how challenging and stressful it is to assist someone with dementia in navigating the outside world securely.
Emma Heming Willis on Instagram
“This one is going out to the photographers and the video people that are trying to get those exclusives of my husband out and about: Just keep your space,” she stated. “I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your space.”
She continued, “For the video people, please don’t be yelling at my husband asking him how he’s doing or whatever — the ‘woohoo’-ing and the ‘yippee ki-yays’… just don’t do it. OK? Give him his space. Allow for our family or whoever’s with him that day to be able to get him from point A to point B safely.”
Heming Willis went on to add, “To other caregivers or dementia care specialist navigating this world… Any tips or advice on how to get your loved ones out in the world safely? Please share below.”
New Diagnosis
The couple married in 2009 and have two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn. Weeks ago, the actor’s family announced that his aphasia, a communication disorder, had developed into frontotemporal dementia (FTD), prompting Heming Willis’ appeal to paparazzi to keep their distance and refrain from yelling at the actor when they see him in public.
“Today there are no treatments for the disease, a reality that we hope can change in the years ahead. As Bruce’s condition advances, we hope that any media attention can be focused on shining a light on this disease that needs far more awareness and research,” they shared last month via an Instagram post.
The Alzheimer’s Association defines FTD as a set of disorders resulting from the gradual deterioration of nerve cells that are located in the frontal lobes or temporal lobes of the brain. These parts of the brain are typically linked to language, behavior, and unfortunately, personality.
