As Bruce Willis’ dementia progresses, his wife, Emma Heming Willis, is pleading with paparazzi to give him “space” and not yell at him in public.
Willis posted a video on Instagram over the weekend “in the spirit of raising awareness around dementia” with a message for photographers attempting to capture shots and video of her husband following a recent incident when the actor was out getting coffee with his friends.
“I know this is your job, but maybe just keep your space,” she said. “For the sake of the video crew, please refrain from yelling at my husband or asking him how he’s doing.
Just don’t do the woohooing and yippee ki-yays. OK? Allow him his space. Allow our family or whoever is with him that day to safely transport him from point A to point B.”
Willis went on to say that the Hollywood star’s friends did a “great job” of protecting him.
The actor’s family announced last month that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, which could lead to “communication challenges,” according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. It came nearly a year after Willis announced his retirement from acting due to aphasia. However, as his family has observed, his condition has deteriorated.
Dr. David Agus, a CBS News medical contributor, told “CBS Mornings” that Willis’ functions will get “worse and worse” as his frontotemporal dementia progresses.
“This is a progressive disorder… He won’t be able to do many of the things that we all do in life “According to Agus.
