Bruce Willis’s Wife Stood Firm On Her ‘Right’ Choice To Move Him Into A Separate Home Despite Being ‘Judged’

Emma Heming Willis has made it clear she will not waver when it comes to decisions surrounding her husband Bruce Willis’s care. As his closest caregiver, she has often spoken openly about the realities of their journey, using her voice to spread awareness and support others in similar situations.

Bruce’s health struggles became public in March 2022, when his family revealed he was stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that impacts speech and communication. Less than a year later, in February 2023, his condition advanced, and doctors diagnosed him with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

In a candid conversation with Michael Strahan on “Good Morning America” on Sept. 9, 2025, Emma defended her family’s choice to transition Bruce into his own residence, a decision she detailed in her book “The Unexpected Journey.” She had previously disclosed in a special with Diane Sawyer, “Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey,” that Bruce, 70, lives apart from the family for both his safety and well-being.

Opening up further to PEOPLE, she admitted the move “was the hardest thing,” but emphasized that Bruce’s illness “requires a calm and serene atmosphere.” The nearby one-storey home has been described as a second family residence, carefully adapted to his needs and equipped for continuous care. It also allows their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, to enjoy being kids without constant worry.

Grateful for the resources that make such care possible, Emma reflected on how the shift has helped everyone adjust. She explained that “Everything just feels a lot calmer, more at ease now.”

During the interview on “Good Morning America,” Strahan pointed out that the Willis family’s choice “kind of created a debate online.”

Bruce Willis, Emma Heming (2018), (IMAGO/MediaPunch)

Emma, 49, said she was unsurprised, acknowledging, “I knew it would.” Still, she emphasized that while it was “a hard decision,” it ultimately “was the safest and best decision – not just for Bruce, but also for our two young girls.”

She made her stance clear:

“And, you know, it’s really not up for a debate. Now I know that Bruce has the best care 100% of the time. His needs are met 100% of the time, as well as our two young daughters’. So I’m not gonna take a vote on that.”

Although some critics voiced disapproval, Emma explained:

“I feel like caregivers are so judged, and it just goes to show that people sometimes just have an opinion versus really having the experience.”

She stressed that every family’s situation is unique.

“And I’ll say that dementia plays out differently in every household. If you’ve seen one case of dementia, it’s one case of dementia. So you have to do what is right for your family and what is going to keep your loved one safe, as well as your young children,” she said.

For Emma, the turning point came when Bruce’s neurologist shared the sobering fact that “sometimes caregivers die before their loved ones.” She admitted this “wakeup call” shifted her perspective.

“I think that was my wakeup call to realize that I need to get help, and I’m not a failure because I need help. It’s okay for me to raise my hand. I didn’t realize that,” she said.

Emma continued:

“I really needed permission for someone to tell me that it’s okay to get help.”

Looking ahead, Emma expressed hope that her book would encourage others who are going through similar situations.

“That’s what I hope that this book does for caregivers: It just gives them the permission to be able to care for themselves because if they don’t, how will they be able to show up and continue to care for the person that they love?”

Emma Heming Willis’s story is a reminder that seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness. What would you have done in her situation? Let us know, and then pass this along to anyone who may need the reminder that they are not alone.