Tallulah Willis has defended her decision to share photographs of her father Bruce Willis on social media after facing criticism from some followers who questioned whether she should be posting images of the actor amid his battle with frontotemporal dementia.
The 31-year-old daughter of the “Die Hard” star posted a series of photographs on Instagram on Sunday, June 22, showing family moments during a visit to her grandmother’s house. The images captured Willis holding her father’s hand while sitting on the floor beside his chair, the pair embracing warmly, and her fiancé Justin Acee posing with his arm around the 70-year-old actor.
Willis captioned the post with a simple message expressing gratitude for the family time. However, after one Instagram user criticized her decision to share the photographs publicly, questioning whether she should expose her father during his vulnerable state, Willis responded with her reasoning: “As a family we use our discretion when posting.”
Willis explained that she made the judgment call to share the moment because she understands what her father means to his fans and the public. She emphasized that the day was filled with smiles and represented a positive moment worth sharing with the world.
The photographs come during a particularly challenging period for the Willis family. Bruce Willis was initially diagnosed with aphasia in March 2022, a language disorder that affects communication abilities, leading to his retirement from acting. In February 2023, his family provided a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia, also known as FTD, which affects speech, personality and behavior.
The family has been notably open about their journey with Willis’ diagnosis, with various members sharing updates and insights about their experiences. Tallulah Willis previously explained during an appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show” in November 2023 that transparency is important to the family both as a natural part of who they are and as a way to spread awareness about FTD. She indicated that turning their struggle into something that could help others makes the situation more meaningful.
Just over a week before Tallulah’s Instagram post, her sister Rumer Willis had shared an emotional Father’s Day message on June 15, revealing the depth of the family’s current challenges. The 36-year-old actress described feeling a deep ache in her chest when wanting to talk with her father about her life and ask him about his stories and experiences.
Rumer Willis indicated that she wishes she had asked her father more questions while he could still provide detailed responses, suggesting that his communication abilities have become significantly limited. Despite the difficulties, she expressed gratitude for still being able to hold, hug and kiss her father, and noted how his eyes light up when he sees her two-year-old daughter Louetta.
The Willis family structure includes Bruce’s three daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore – Rumer, Scout Willis, 33, and Tallulah – as well as two younger daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, with his current wife Emma Heming Willis. The blended family has maintained close relationships throughout Willis’ health challenges, with both Moore and Heming Willis frequently appearing together in family gatherings and celebrations.
Fan responses to Tallulah’s Instagram post were largely supportive, with many sharing their own experiences with dementia and caregiving. Some followers expressed appreciation for seeing Willis appearing well and praised the family for sharing positive moments during difficult times.
The photographs represent some of the more recent public glimpses of Willis since his diagnosis became known. His family has continued to share selected moments from their time together, balancing their desire for privacy with their commitment to raising awareness about frontotemporal dementia and demonstrating that meaningful connections can continue despite the challenges the disease presents.