Demi Moore Defends Bruce Willis’s Wife Amid Dementia Battle: ‘There Is No Road Map’

The actress expressed compassion for Emma Heming Willis as she faced backlash following her decision to move husband into second home.

Actor Bruce Willis and wife Emma Heming Willis attend the premiere of "Motherless Brooklyn" during the 57th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall in New York City on Oct. 11, 2019. Photo by Angela Weiss/AFP

Actress Demi Moore is defending the caregiving decisions Emma Heming Willis had to make amid her husband Bruce Willis’s ongoing battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

During a recent episode of “The Oprah Podcast,” the 62-year-old, who was married to the actor from 1987 to 2000, empathized with Willis’s wife in navigating the choices she made on behalf of their blended family.

“I have so much compassion for Emma,” Moore said in a pretaped interview on the Sept. 2 episode.

“Being the ex-wife, even though our family is very connected, is an interesting position.

“There’s no way that anybody could have anticipated where this was going to go.

“I really think she’s done a masterful job. She has been so dedicated to forging the right path. She’s had equal amounts of fear and strength and courage in navigating this.”

Emma Willis faced criticism after revealing last week that the “Die Hard” star now lives in a second home and requires around-the-clock care to meet his needs.

During the ABC special “Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey,” she said the actor’s illness has led her to make “difficult decisions” in order to make him more comfortable.

Willis was diagnosed with FTD in 2023, after initially suffering from aphasia, a disorder that impacted his ability to speak, write, and understand language.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, FTD is one of the less common types of dementia that affects the neurons in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain.

“There is no road map for how to deal with this,” Moore said.

“So much fell on Emma to really figure this whole thing out.

“The most beautiful thing ... was recognizing the importance for caregivers that they have to take care of themselves. If they don’t put that time into making sure that they’re okay, then they can’t show up for anyone else.”

Emma Willis took to social media to defend her actions, noting a section from her new book, “The Unexpected Journey,” that nothing impacts opinions more than those who actually have first-hand experience.

“Too often, caregivers are judged quickly and unfairly by those who haven’t lived this journey or stood on the front lines of it,” she captioned her Instagram video.

“Sharing openly may invite opinions, but more importantly, it creates connection and validation for those actually navigating the realities of caregiving every day.”

Moore echoed that sentiment, noting how difficult it is to see Willis decline “into other parts of themself,” but believes Emma Willis’s book will help other caregivers.