Bruce Willis’ wife honors 16th wedding anniversary with tear-jerking tribute
Bruce Willis’ wife is making sure he feels loved as the pair celebrate their sixteenth wedding anniversary.
Emma Heming Willis shared an emotional post on Friday, March 21, honoring her husband as he battles dementia while being brutally honest about their “timeless” bond.
Taking to her Instagram, Emma, 46, shared what appeared to be a throwback photo, showing the model wrapping her arms around her husband and going in for a kiss.
Willis, who turned 70 on Wednesday, smiled while accepting her embrace.
“Today marks 16 years with the love of a lifetime. We’ve shared monumental highs and devastating lows, and through it all, we’ve built something timeless,” Emma captioned the sweet shot.
Despite the ups and downs, the British actress said she’s “so deeply grateful for every chapter I’ve had with him—and all the ones we’ll continue to write, in our language of unconditional love 💙.”
Emma reposted the image on her Instagram Story to Van Morrison’s song “Brown Eyed Girl,” adding “16 years 🤍 3/21/09.”
Her tribute was well received, collecting nearly 60K likes and some special responses, including one from Willis’ oldest daughter with his ex-wife, Demi Moore.
“Love you Emma you are magic 321 and papa he loves you so much,” Rumer Willis, 36, commented.
Emma also took to her Instagram Story to give her followers insight as to how she and her husband spent their special day.
Posting a black-and-white photo of her holding the “Die Hard” star’s hand, Emma showcased her gorgeous diamond ring and what appeared to be Willis’ finger with a tattoo reading “321.” Emma already had the finger tattoo in honor of their wedding day, March 21, 2009, per The Independent.
She also shared several bite-sized desserts, writing, “Anniversary treats.”
Emma’s final Instagram Story post was a shout-out to Willis, revealing the couple is still enjoying his monumental birthday.
“And still celebrating that birthday!!” she wrote alongside a pic of a blue-and-white cake reading, “Happy Birthday Bruce.”
Much like their anniversary on Friday, Emma and the rest of the Willis family came together to celebrate the actor’s 70th birthday on Wednesday, March 19.
“It’s Bruce’s birthday, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that there’s no greater fan than a Bruce fan,” the “Pulp Fiction” star’s wife wrote on Instagram. “So flood him with all the love today—he will feel it, I swear he will. You are one powerful bunch. I love how you rally for him, and I’m so grateful that he has you.”
Moore, 62, also took to social media to give her ex-hubby a loving tribute in honor of his special day.
“Happy birthday, BW!” she wrote in one Instagram post alongside several photos of Willis with his family. “We love you.”
“Quality time with our BW… Who was feeling the love!” the “Striptease” actress captioned another. “Keep it pouring in!”
Willis and Moore’s three daughters – Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah – also rushed to the platform to share some touching words and photos for their dad.
“To the King…I love you Daddio,” Rumer captioned her post. “Happy 70th Birthday papa.”
“Happy birthday to the Greatest of all time,” Scout, 33, added in another. “Every day I thank the Gods that 50% of my DNA is from him. The music I make, the magic I create, and the magnetic mischief I incite, that’s my father’s legacy alive in the world.”
Tallulah, 31, posted a black-and-white pic of Willis on the set of “Die Hard,” writing, “Happy 70th to my favorite friend! you are a light that can never be dimmed! I love you so proud to be your baby Tallulah Belle Bruce Willis.”
While Willis shares his three oldest daughters with Moore, he is also a father to two younger daughters – Mabel Ray, 12, and Evelyn Penn, 10 – whom he shares with Emma.
Aside from celebrating a 70th birthday and a 16th wedding anniversary, this week also saw a positive health update about Willis as he continues to battle frontotemporal dementia – the degenerative disease he was diagnosed with in Feb. 2023 that affects his communication and behavior.
Rumer, in an Instagram Story posted one day before the actor’s birthday, responded when a fan asked how her dad had been doing.
“He’s doing great,” Willis’ eldest daughter answered, “thank you for asking.”
Rumer’s health update came three years after the “Unbreakable” star was diagnosed with aphasia – the language disorder that impairs a person’s ability to communicate – in March 2022, which forced Willis to retire from acting after almost 40 years.
Willis’ family spoke out one year later to announce the “Split” actor’s diagnosis had progressed to frontotemporal dementia.
“Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD),” they wrote in Feb. 2023.
“Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces,” his family continued. “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
Willis’ family and friends have rallied to support the actor as he continues to battle his health woes, and Samuel L. Jackson – who starred with Willis in “Die Hard With a Vengeance” – recently revealed some wise advice Willis shared with him at the beginning of Jackson’s career.
