It is not easy staying married to Bruce Willis as he is, but Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, says she is willing to do it all over again, knowing the outcome. Bruce and Emma celebrated their 17th anniversary on Sunday, December 29 and she took to Instagram to celebrate with a heartfelt tribute.
The tribute was accompanied by a shot that captured her posing with the actor, half submerged in a shallow body of water dressed in swimsuits. They both looked happy, and the talented actor still seemed 100% present, a far cry from what he sometimes looks like today.
“17 years of us,” Emma’s caption began before she went on to discuss the emotional complexity of their situation. “Anniversaries used to bring excitement,” she continued. “Now, if I’m honest, they stir up all the feelings, leaving a heaviness in my heart and a pit in my stomach. I give myself 30 minutes to sit in the ‘why him, why us,’ to feel the anger and grief.”
She added, “Then I shake it off and return to what is. And what is… is unconditional love. I feel blessed to know it, and it’s because of him. I’d do it all over again and again in a heartbeat.”
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Bruce Willis’ Wife Has Remained Loyal Despite His Medical Condition
In 2022, Bruce Willis’s family revealed that the actor had been diagnosed with the language disorder aphasia and would no longer be taking acting gigs. The following year, they revealed he had received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
FTD is a progressive condition that leads to the atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. This can cause issues with speech, emotional problems, and personality changes. Since the diagnosis, Emma has been vocal about their experience as a family and as an advocate for fellow caregivers.
In a message posted on her Instagram Stories in March 2023, she confessed that she had been “crying all morning” because Bruce’s birthday was coming up. “I just think it’s important that you see all sides of this,” she said in the video. Then she addressed people calling her “strong,” saying that she has had no choice but to stay strong because she is also raising kids amidst everything.
It has been a difficult journey for the couple. But Bruce Willis’ wife has been very intentional about living in the now and finding silver linings in each day. “Father’s Day is a time I get to reflect on my deep appreciation and respect I have for Bruce as I watch him father our little ones,” Emma wrote in a Father’s Day post last year.
Are Bruce and Emma Still Married?
Yes, Bruce Willis and Emma are still very much married and in love. While his diagnosis has presented unique challenges for their relationship, the pair have remained together, and that is not likely to change anytime soon. One only has to read Emma’s latest tribute to know.
How Did Bruce Willis Meet Emma?
Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis first crossed paths in 2007 at their mutual trainer’s gym. They stepped out together in January 2008, when Emma joined the actor at the premiere of his film “What Just Happened?” at the Sundance Film Festival.
“When we first met, I was surprised at how charming and how funny he was – and extremely handsome,” she said of their first meeting, to which Willis added, “I was already in love with her.”
Who Did Bruce Willis Marry First?
Before Emma became Bruce Willis’ wife, he was married to Demi Moore. Since he received his diagnosis, Moore has become one of his greatest supporters. While speaking at the 2024 Hamptons International Film Festival in October, the talented actress, 62, revealed how she tries to meet Bruce where he is on any given day.
“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,” she said.
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The former couple share daughters Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, Tallulah, 30, and granddaughter Lou, 20 months.
What Is the Age Difference Between Bruce Willis and Emma?
The age difference between Bruce Willis’ wife and him is 23 years. The “Die Hard” actor was 54, and she was a 30-year-old model when they got married at his home in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2009.
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