Emma Heming Willis has dismissed claims that she is using her husband Bruce Willis’ devastating diagnosis of dementia for her own ‘five minutes’ of fame.
Heming, who has been married to 67-year-old Willis since 2009, has made it her mission to raise awareness of aphasia after her husband was found to be struggling with the condition.
Willis, who was forced to quit his acting career, has now been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
On Wednesday, Heming took to her Instagram to share a short clip of herself, saying, “Just saw something about me getting my ‘five minutes,’ which is great, which means you’re listening.”
“So I’m going to take my five minutes and I’m going to make it ten because I’m always going to advocate for my husband.”
A photo of Bruce Willis with his blended family of women, including wife Emma Heming, ex-wife Demi Moore, as well as his several grown and two young daughters
Emma Heming Willis and Bruce Willis married in 2009 and have two young daughters together
Heming, who has two young children with Willis, vowed she would use the momentum her position has given her to “raise awareness” about her husband’s illness and glorify “carers, who are unsung heroes.”
She continued, “And then I’m going to turn my sadness and my anger and my sadness into something good around something that feels less than.”
“Watch this room, because I didn’t come to play.”
Willis’ adult daughter Scout responded in a post below the video: “HELL YES! I am so proud of you!’
Another user wrote: ‘Good for you! I must confess that my previous perception of you – created solely by the paparazzi – was not exactly a woman of substance. I am so sorry for what you and your family are going through. You are truly a woman of substance and strength. I will listen and learn.’
The Willis family revealed in February that his condition had worsened, saying that while the reality is “painful, it’s a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
“FTD is a cruel disease many of us have never heard of and can affect anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because it can take years to be diagnosed, FTD is likely much more common than we know,” they added.
The statement, which was signed by Heming, Bruce’s five daughters (including Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8), and his ex-wife Demi Moore, added that if the action star could respond to his situation, he would like to help spread awareness and bring “global attention and connection” to others dealing with the “debilitating disease.”
Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60 who he was married to from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with wife Emma, 44, aged 14.
Aphasia, which the actor was first diagnosed with last year, can affect a person’s ability to speak, write and understand verbal and written language.
Willis’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia may include symptoms such as personality changes, speech difficulties, and motor impairment.
At the time, Heming said she struggled with “paralyzing” grief, saying she was “learning to live with it.”
In her full post on Instagram, Emma Heming wrote that she’s “turning her 5 minutes into 10” as she tries to embrace “this solid and loving community that my family and I are in.”
Bruce Willis uses an earpiece so he doesn’t have to memorize lines – the famous actor’s cognitive decline was long considered an open secret in Hollywood
Last Saturday, Heming posted an emotional plea asking families of people with dementia for advice on how to help their loved ones navigate the world safely.
To other carers or dementia care specialists navigating this world…. Do you have any tips or advice for getting your loved ones out into the world safely?’ she wrote in the caption of the post.
Heming Willis posted the Instagram video on Saturday saying it was “in the service of raising awareness about dementia.”
“If you’re someone who cares for someone with dementia, you know how difficult and stressful it can be just to get them out into the world and navigate it safely — even just getting a cup of coffee.”