On Father's Day, Bruce Willis was honored with heartfelt tributes on social media from his daughter, Rumer Willis, and his wife, Emma Heming Willis, both of whom acknowledged the actor's battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and his declining health in their poignant messages.
Rumer initiated her tribute with a deep sense of longing, saying, "Today is a challenging day; my heart aches as I yearn to share every detail of my life with you, to embrace you and inquire about your life experiences, stories, struggles, and triumphs. I wish I had asked you more questions when you could still recount them all. Yet, knowing you wouldn't want me to be sad today, I'll strive to be grateful, reminding myself of how fortunate I am to have you as my dad, still by my side, allowing me to hold you, hug you, kiss your cheek, and stroke your head, as I recount stories to you." She mentioned how Bruce's "eyes sparkle with joy" when he sees their daughter, Louetta, concluding, "I am eternally grateful for every moment we share. I love you beyond measure, Dad. Happy Father's Day. My love extends to all those who are sailing in the same boat as me, to those who have lost their fathers, to the single mothers who double as dads, and to my future baby's dad..."
Emma, on her part, paid tribute to her husband and other fathers "living with disabilities or illnesses," commending them for "being present in their own unique ways and to the children who stand by their side." She shares daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with the 'Die Hard' legend.
"What Bruce imparts to our girls transcends words," Emma continued. "He teaches them resilience, unconditional love, and the silent strength that comes from mere presence. This photograph conveys so much. Love deepens, adapts, and persists, even when everything else changes." However, she admitted to feeling "overwhelmingly sad" on this special day, expressing, "I wish, with all my being, that things could be different for him and easier for our family. As they say in our FTD community, 'It is what it is.' While this phrase might seem dismissive to some, it grounds me. It helps me accept reality and stops me from fighting against it every step of the way, as I used to. Today, let's celebrate the incredible dads who are still with us and those we cherish in our hearts."
Following his diagnosis with aphasia and subsequent retirement from acting in 2022, Bruce was diagnosed with FTD in early 2023. His family, including daughters Rumer, Mabel, Evelyn, Scout, and Tallulah, along with Emma and his ex-wife Demi Moore, have stood by him during this difficult time.
