'ALL THE FEELS'
Bruce Willis’ wife Emma gives emotional update on his future after actor’s seen in first video since dementia diagnosis
BRUCE Willis' wife Emma has shared an emotional update on the star's future after video from his birthday celebration surfaced.
The retired actor has been keeping a low profile in the weeks since his family confirmed that he's battling an aggressive form of dementia.
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After Bruce's ex-wife Demi Moore gave fans a glimpse inside his birthday bash on Instagram, the Die Hard star's wife Emma, who was present at the party, took to her own account to share details and more.
"So we had such a great time celebrating my husband yesterday. He had the best time. He loved his apple pie. Thank you for all the birthday wishes," she said, kicking off her video.
"So we got through that. I pulled myself together. But guess what's tomorrow? It's our wedding anniversary. So I'm sure I'll be feeling all the feels."
Emma went on: "I will spare you on that. But wait 'til you see that reel.
"But anyway, we have so many beautiful things and fun things to look forward to. Mable's birthday is coming up; She's turning 11. Evelyn will be turning nine."
She added: "And then the birth of Demi and Bruce's first grandchild – my step-grandchild – which we're so excited about. So, so many fun things to look forward to. So many things to be grateful for."
FANS' FIRST GLIMPSE
Fans got their first real look at Bruce in a video shared by the G.I. Jane actress of the entire family gathered to celebrate his 68th birthday.
Emma, Demi and Bruce's kids Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah were all present for the party along with a few other guests.
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In the video, everyone – including the actor – sang Happy Birthday.
Bruce appeared in good spirits, singing at least a few words to the song, chatting with revelers, and blowing out the candles on his pie.
As everyone sang, he smiled, talked, and made gestures with his hands.
At one point, he appeared to stumble slightly, perhaps simply losing his footing.
He stumbled a bit again after giving a major effort to blow out the few candles stuck inside the pie.
The entire family, including Bruce, had a laugh at the lighthearted moment.
After the song concluded, the group shouted: "Hip Hip Hooray."
Bruce appeared to make a lassoing motion with his hands, even shouting "hooray" at one point.
He was embraced and kissed by a few of the guests present.
Demi captioned the post: "Happy birthday, BW! So glad we could celebrate you today. Love you and love our family. Thank you to everyone for the love and warm wishes — we all feel them."
While fans were thrilled to get a rare glimpse at Bruce in this capacity, there was some level of concern from his longtime fans after spotting a subtle but worrying detail in the clip.
Bruce appeared to be missing one of his front teeth.
It is not clear why or what happened and it seems unlikely fans will get an explanation.
FANS REACT
The comments were a mix of concern and support.
Actress Rosario Dawson commented: "Happy Birthday Bruce! Blessings to your and the family."
Another commenter wrote: "Always one of the coolest guys ever! Happy birthday Bruce!"
One fan noted: "Even the slightest thing is the BIGGEST thing! Usually, when a person is suffering from frontotemporal dementia they don’t remember the significance of blowing out the candle. And he did it without being told to. He even commented on the dog. He was definitely lucid and a participant at the moment. I am so glad to see this! Happy Birthday, Bruce!"
Another comment read: "One of the best! Thank you for letting us share a very personal journey!! A fan forever!"
Someone else chimed in: "That’s sooo heartwarming."
A fifth fan commented: "What an emotional moment [thanks] for sharing Demi we love you and your family."
Another fan wrote: "Could watch this over and over again … there’s nothing better than this … the decision to make your blended family a priority is what family dreams are made of! We love you, Bruce."
One commenter pointed out: "Bruce is missing a tooth."
BRUCE'S BATTLE
The actor's daughter Rumer, 34, shared the heartbreaking news about her father's diagnosis on Instagram.
, which mirrored statements shared by the rest of the family, she explained that Bruce's condition was "not treatable" and "has progressed."
It read: "Our family wanted to start by expressing our deepest gratitude for the incredible outpouring of love, support, and wonderful stories we have all received since sharing Bruce’s original diagnosis.
"In the spirit of that, we wanted to give you an update about our beloved husband, father, and friend since we now have a deeper understanding of what he is experiencing."
The statement went on to detail the "painful" disease the Pulp Fiction star is facing.
"Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD).
"Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.
"To read our full statement and learn more about this disease please go to the link in our bio," she closed, signing off as the "Ladies of Willis/Moore."
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a medical condition that causes patients to struggle to understand language and communicate effectively.
It typically comes on after a stroke or head injury but can also be related to disease or a brain tumor causing degenerative damage.
Those battling aphasia typically have an "expressive" or "receptive" form of the disease; "Expressive" aphasia is when people find it very difficult to find and say the right words, although they probably know exactly what they want to say.
"Receptive" aphasia, meanwhile, is when someone is able to speak well and use long sentences, but what they say may not make sense.
The family's statement continued on the website of the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.
It said: "FTD is a cruel disease that many of us have never heard of and can strike anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because getting the diagnosis can take years, FTD is likely much more prevalent than we know.
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"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.
"Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and to raise awareness about important issues both publicly and privately. We know in our hearts that – if he could today -- he would want to respond by bringing global attention and connectedness with those who are also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families."
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