Inspired by her father’s bold and public battle with frontotemporal dementia, Tallulah Willis – the youngest of the Demi Moore and Bruce Willis clan – revealed a diagnosis of her own.
Recently, the 30-year-old shared a sweet childhood moment of her dad carrying her on the red carpet, hinting that as an adult, she’d received a surprising diagnosis.
Keep reading to learn more about Tallulah’s condition!
An Instagram memory shared by Tallulah Willis turned into a conversation about autism.
Tallulah, the youngest of three girls shared by Bruce Willis, 69, and his ex-wife Demi Moore, 61, shared a clip that shows her as a child, repeatedly playing with her father’s head as he holds her in his arms while speaking with the media at a film premiere.
Inviting dialogue from her 408,000 followers, Tallulah captions the March 15th clip, “tell me your autistic without telling me your autistic [sic].”
Some users expressed love for the sweet moment in the clip, and others – familiar with the behaviors she displays – touched on her symptoms of autism along with her father’s loving reaction.
“The beautiful way he just wasn’t even phased by that and just continued to hold you. Your dad is one-of-a-kind honey, and so are you,” writes one netizen. A second shares, “In your defense, shaved heads are as relaxing as little Japanese sand zen gardens.”
A third cyber fans adds, “His care for your feelings is magic…I’m so happy you have moments captured in the vault of forever.”
Recent diagnosis
One of the most popular comments comes from a psychologist who specializes in neurodivergent conditions.
“If you’re open to sharing, did you get diagnosed as a child?” The user, who goes by the name mfizzle, continues, “Not sure how much of your journey you’ve shared but would love to read more. You’re brave and inspiring and this is a very sweet video. All the best!”
Responding to this user’s question, Tallulah writes, “This is the first time I’ve ever publicly shared my diagnosis. Found out this summer and it’s changed my life.”
Stimming
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests.”
Further down in the Instagram comments, Scout LaRue Willis, 32, offered more information on why the attached clip is relevant to her little sister’s condition.
“She’s stimming,” Scout LaRue writes, referring to repeated movements that some people with autism may engage to regulate sensory input.
“Dude the ear curl,” Tallulah writes, referring to the moment she folds the ear of her dad, who looks at her and sweetly smiles. “I wish we had stronger audio.”
Her father’s battle
Tallulah, Scout LaRue and Rumer Willis, 35, have been showering their father with love and support amid his ongoing battle with aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
In 2023, the Die Hard star, who turned 69 on March 19, was diagnosed with FTD, a degenerative condition primarily affecting communication and behavior rather than memory. One of the actor’s early symptoms of the illness was aphasia, which affects how people communicate, write and understand other people.
Since the diagnoses, Willis’ loved ones have voiced support for the adored man, who also shares another two daughters with wife Emma Hemming Willis.
“Just like you, we simply adore him. What you might not know, but maybe you could imagine, that being wrapped in his arms is the safest place in this whole wide world,” writes Emma of The Last Boy Scout star whom she married in 2009. “He’s a true gentle-man. With so much love to give and share. That’s what I get to see, his true core. I can tell you, it’s so pure and ever so good.”
At this time, Tallulah has not offered further information on her diagnosis.