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Bruce Willis with wife Emma Heming-Willis at a 2016 sporting event
Photo: John Angelillo/UPI Photo/IMAGO
A few weeks after Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis was announced, his wife Emma Heming-Willis is now making a moving appeal to the public.
The reason: Her husband's first attempts to participate in public life again were apparently made more difficult by paparazzi.
"My goal is to raise awareness of dementia," says the 44-year-old in a video on Instagram.
»Anyone who cares for a person with dementia knows how difficult and stressful it is to navigate them safely through the outside world, even if it's just for a coffee together.«
That's exactly what two friends tried to do together with Bruce Willis in Los Angeles a few days ago.
However, they did not go unnoticed: A short time later, paparazzi videos of the walk could be seen on celebrity websites.
"You protected him in a great way," says Heming-Willis, before she - visibly emotionally - ends the video and starts again shortly afterwards.
"There is still a lot of education to be done on the subject of dementia," she says on the second attempt.
»This is for the photographers and videographers trying to get exclusive pictures of my husband: just keep your distance.«
She knows it's her job to get pictures and videos, but she's asking the paparazzi to exercise restraint.
“Please don't yell at my husband, don't ask him how he's doing.
Allows his companion to get him safely from A to B.«
In February, the family announced that 67-year-old Willis has frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
According to doctors, FTD patients often have a lack of drive, change their character and can react impulsively or aggressively.
A first diagnosis had previously been aphasia, a language disorder.
Willis' health problems had become increasingly noticeable during film shoots in recent years and led to the decision to end his career in March 2022.
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