Emma Heming Willis made one of her most difficult decisions as a caregiver when she moved her husband Bruce Willis to a specialized second home designed for his dementia care needs. The choice came after Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2022, fundamentally changing the family’s daily reality.

During her candid interview with Diane Sawyer that aired August 26, 2025, as part of the ABC special “Emma and Bruce Willis – The Unexpected Journey,” Emma opened up about the painful decision-making process. Reflecting on the choice to move Bruce to a nearby facility, she said, “It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make so far.”

The new living arrangement prioritized Bruce’s medical needs while protecting their daughters from the intensive care requirements. “I knew first and foremost Bruce would want that for our daughters. He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs,” Emma explained during the interview.

Emma refers to the care facility as Bruce’s “second home,” a place where he receives round-the-clock professional support within a warm, family-like environment. Although they live apart, she highlighted the deep connection they maintain by spending meaningful time there with him. To Emma, the space is more than just a care center. It’s “a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter.”

The decision sparked immediate public reaction after the Diane Sawyer special aired. Emma addressed the criticism head-on through an Instagram video posted August 29, 2025, acknowledging she anticipated the divided response to sharing such intimate family details.

“What I knew is that by sharing some of our intimate information that we would see these two camps, right? It would be people with an opinion versus people with an actual experience,” Emma said in the video. She specifically called out the swift judgment caregivers face from the public.

To further underscore her perspective, Emma referenced a chapter from her book “The Unexpected Journey,” titled “Opinion versus Experience.” She read aloud the passage that reflected her therapist Kathleen Murphy’s guidance.

“Everyone will have an opinion, but you have to remind yourself that most don’t have the experience to back it up,” it read. “And if that’s the case, they shouldn’t offer their two cents about it, and you shouldn’t pay them any mind.”

The Instagram response continued with Emma’s firm stance on uninformed criticism. “Even if someone is closely familiar with dementia, or the condition you are caring for, they aren’t in your home, so they don’t know how your person is behaving or your family dynamics,” she stated.

She concluded her message by dismissing the noise surrounding her decisions. “I mean, the truth is, that the opinions are so loud and they’re so noisy. But if they don’t have the experience of this, they don’t get a say, and they definitely don’t get a vote,” she said.

Bruce’s ex-wife, Demi Moore, offered public support for Emma’s caregiving approach during an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Demi praised Emma’s dedication and acknowledged the unprecedented challenges she faces as a young woman navigating such complex medical and family dynamics.

“So much fell on Emma to really figure this whole thing out,” Demi said, recognizing the weight of responsibility that landed on Emma’s shoulders after Bruce’s diagnosis. She expressed deep admiration for how Emma has handled the situation.

“I have so much compassion for Emma in this, being a young woman. There’s no way that anybody could have anticipated where this was going to go, and I really think she’s done a masterful job,” she stated.

The praise extended to Emma’s courage throughout the caregiving journey. “She has been so dedicated to forging the right path. She’s had equal amounts of fear and strength and courage in navigating this,” Demi added, highlighting the emotional complexity Emma faces daily.

Demi also emphasized the importance of caregiver self-care, pointing out that Emma’s book thoughtfully addresses this often-overlooked issue. She stressed that caregivers must prioritize their own well-being to effectively support those they care for, saying that if they don’t put time into making sure they’re okay, they then can’t adequately be there for anyone else.

Despite being the veteran actor’s ex-wife, Demi acknowledged her unique position within the connected family structure while supporting Emma’s decisions throughout Bruce’s health decline.

The public response to both Emma’s interview and Demi’s support has been sharply divided across social media platforms. Critics questioned Demi’s involvement, with one writing, “Demi! Less is more. Stay out of their marriage. Desperado.”

Another critical comment stated, “Demi divorced Bruce! So she does not know what compassion is to speak or recognize about how Emma handles the actor’s medical issues.”

However, many viewers defended both women and their handling of Bruce’s care. “I can’t imagine judging someone in this situation. They seem to have a very healthy relationship and if she believes this is what’s best for him I’m glad they are supporting each other,” one Facebook commenter wrote.

Redditors echoed similar supportive sentiments. “This family is going through enough. Can we please stay out of their personal business?” one person posted, while another added, “Emma is broken-hearted and making this decision must have been awful.”

The family’s unity during this difficult period drew praise from supporters. “A much as this entire situation sucks, I’m so glad they all have each other. I’m so glad Emma has Demi in her corner. And I know the kids too,” a Redditor commented.

Instagram users celebrated the relationship between the two women. “She’s probably the most supportive ex-wife ever. They have such a cool relationship. It’s better to love than hate anyway,” one commenter said, followed by another replying, “and I truly believe they have Bruce’s best interest. They both love him and what is best for him and their family.”

The emotional weight of the situation wasn’t lost on observers, with one fan simply stating, “This is so heartbreaking.”

The ABC special that triggered the public discussion took viewers inside Bruce and Emma’s love story while revealing the new reality they face since his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

Since the diagnosis was made public, the veteran actor’s family has shared touching moments that have stirred deep emotions across the internet, offering glimpses of love and resilience amid a challenging journey.

On June 22, 2025, Tallulah Willis, the 31-year-old daughter of Bruce and Demi, offered a heartfelt glimpse into her father’s life by posting new photos on Instagram. The images showed the “Die Hard” star spending quality time with loved ones at a family gathering, which stirred emotional reactions due to his ongoing health issues.

Captured during a weekend visit to her grandmother’s home, Tallulah documented the serene outing with Bruce and her fiancé, Justin Acee. The post, captioned, “Sunday funday at Grams! Grateful 🕊️,” featured a series of intimate photos that resonated deeply with fans.

One image showed Bruce warmly embracing Tallulah while other relatives conversed at a dining table behind them.

Another photo featured the 70-year-old standing beside Justin, who wrapped an affectionate arm around his future father-in-law.

But perhaps the most moving shot captured the father-daughter duo, hand in hand, with Tallulah sitting on the floor as they exchanged smiles that spoke volumes about their bond.

In response to the touching moments, many fans expressed gratitude and love through social media comments. One person wrote, “Thanks for sharing Bruce with us. It’s good to see his smile and yours as well.” Another commented, “Your dad looks so good! ❤️.”

Others responded with admiration for the genuine nature of the photographs. One said, “such beautiful memories ❤️,” while another shared, “Love that he is always smiling in the moments you share with us! We all want to be remembered in our happiness.”

The emotions didn’t stop there. One person posted, “Heartwarming…thank you for sharing. Oxoxo [sic].” Another wrote, “Such a tight beautiful hug!!! Unconditional love from the both of you to each other [sic]!! 💙❤️.” A final fan simply called it, “Such a precious photo ❤️❤️❤️❤️”

These images, tender and sincere, struck a powerful chord due to Bruce’s public health struggles. He was first diagnosed with aphasia in spring 2022, and in February 2023, his family confirmed a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia.

In their collective statement, Demi, Tallulah, Rumer, and Scout Willis, along with Bruce’s wife, Emma, and their daughters Mabel and Evelyn Willis, explained the diagnosis. Since the announcement, the Willis daughters have shared many glimpses into their father’s life.

On March 19, Scout posted a carousel of childhood and recent photos, writing, “Happy birthday to the Greatest of all time. 🐐 Every day I thank the Gods that 50% of my DNA is from him.”

That same day, Rumer shared a video of Bruce dancing with Demi, adding, “To the King…I love you Daddio. Happy 70th Birthday papa [sic].”

On April 8, Tallulah recalled a playful birthday party from her childhood, where Bruce dressed as “Deedee Pickles” and joined in her Rugrats-themed birthday party.

In the caption, she reflected on her upbringing, saying she had once focused too much on “the wrongs and the gaps” in her childhood, but had come to appreciate how magical it was to have parents who allowed themselves to be whimsical.

Weeks later, Rumer honored Bruce on Father’s Day with a series of pictures showing her with him and her daughter, Louetta.

Her caption expressed longing and love, noting how difficult the day felt and how she wished she had asked more questions while her father could still answer. Still, she reminded herself to “try to just be grateful,” acknowledging how lucky she was that Bruce was her dad.

“I love you so much dad happy Father’s Day. Sending love to all those who are in the boat with me or have lost their fathers, to the single moms who are the dads too, to my future baby daddy…❤️ [sic],” Rummer concluded.