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Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and Tallulah Belle Willis attend the after party for the Comedy Central Roast of Bruce Willis at NeueHouse on July 14, 2018 in Los Angeles, California© Getty

Demi Moore discusses 'privacy and secretiveness' around Bruce Willis' health

The Substance actress remains close to her ex-husband

Bryony Gooch
US Writer
November 13, 2024
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Demi Moore and Bruce Willis may have divorced in 2000, but over the past 24 years they have remained stalwart parts of each other's lives as they share three daughters together. 

Demi Moore was married to Bruce Willis, who she has remained close to© MediaPunch
Demi Moore was married to Bruce Willis, who she has remained close to

This means that even while the Die Hard actor has undergone major life changes due to his diagnosis with Frontotemporal Dementia, Demi remains a regular presence in his life.

Now, the actress is opening up about the decision to share the diagnosis with the world, and navigating the line between "privacy and secretiveness."

Demi shared with the Los Angeles Times that once Bruce was diagnosed, the family felt able to share more about what was going on.

The actress is close with her family© Getty
Bruce's family remains close

"It took some of the tension of uncertainty and trying to bridge between privacy and secretiveness," she explained. "It is very private, but it was something that was trying to be held. So it opened up a pathway of much more ease and grace."

demi moore and bruce willis 2018© Getty Images

Famously, Bruce retired from acting in March 2022 as his family revealed he had been diagnosed with aphasia. In 2023, his condition progressed into frontotemporal dementia.

For Demi, Bruce is the first person she has known to have dementia. She aims to see him at least once a week when she's in town, and her approach to him has remained consistent: "I’m just trying to show up and be wherever he is at any given moment."

Bruce Willis with daughter Rumer and granddaughter Louetta in a photo shared on Instagram© Instagram
Bruce Willis with daughter Rumer and granddaughter Louetta in a photo shared on Instagram

She continued: "Being present is a mutual gift in something that is obviously not what any of us would have wanted. But here we are. And he gets to spend time with his granddaughter, which is very sweet and moving. It’s magic."

Photo of Bruce Willis with his granddaughter Louetta Isley shared by Rumer Willis on Instagram in a video montage in honor of Mother's Day 2024© Instagram

Demi and the family remain candid about the actor's condition, and as she was honored with the Career Achievement in Acting Award at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October, she opened up about Bruce during a live discussion.

Bruce Willis, Rumer Willis and Demi Moore attend "Love, Loss & What I Wore" new cast member celebration© Getty Images

"You know, I've said this before," Demi said. "The disease is what the disease is. I think you have to be in real deep acceptance of what that is. But for where he's at, he is stable."

She recalled visiting her ex-husband just "two days ago," when she brought her granddaughter, Louetta — Rumer Willis' daughter — to see him.

"What I always encourage is to just meet them where they're at," Demi added. "When you're holding on to what was, I think it's a losing game. But when you show up to meet them where they're at, there is great beauty and sweetness."

"And being able to share with whatever we have, for however long we have it."

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