GettyBruce Willis’ wife tells paparazzi to stop yelling at him amid dementia diagnosis: Let him get ‘from point A to B safely’
Emma Heming Willis, wife of actor Bruce Willis, has issued a statement asking paparazzi to “keep your seat” as she follows the 67-year-old actor, who was recently diagnosed with dementia.
Heming Willis posted a video on Instagram recounting a recent incident in which photographers tried to talk to her husband while he made a rare public appearance to meet a group of friends for coffee in Santa Monica.
“If you are someone who cares for someone with dementia, you know how difficult and stressful it can be to get someone out into the world and navigate them safely, even just to get a cup of coffee,” she said. “It is clear that there is still a lot of education that needs to be valued. So this one goes out to the photographers and video people trying to get the exclusives of my husband traveling. Just keep your seat.”
“I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your seat,” she continued. “Please don’t yell at my husband and ask how he’s doing, no matter what. Hoo-hooing and yippee-ki-yay’s – just stop it. Give him space. Allow our family or whoever with him that day, can get him from point A to point B safely. That’s my PSA.”
Her statement comes just weeks after the family announced Willis’ aphasia had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, which is often diagnosed at a younger age than other forms of dementia. Symptoms may include personality changes, speech difficulties, and motor impairment.
Bruce and Emma have been married since 2009.