Demi Moore is opening up about her ex-husband in a new interview. While chatting with Oprah Winfrey on The Oprah Podcast, Moore talked a bit about how “difficult” it’s been for her to see her ex-husband’s decline.
“It’s hard to see somebody who was so, you know, vibrant and strong and so directed shift into this other parts of themself,” Moore said on the Sept. 2 podcast episode. “But, my particular perspective is — one, I really always say it’s so important just to meet them where they’re at. Don’t have an expectation of them needing to be who they were or who you want them to be. And when you do that, I find that there is an incredible sweetness and something that’s soft and tender and loving.”
Willis, 70, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in 2023 and has been dealing with the side effects for the past few years. Moore, who shares three grown children with Willis, tries her best to live in the moment when she’s around her ex-husband as his behavior has shifted drastically due to his health.
“If you replay where it was and what you’ve lost, it only creates anxiety and and grief,” Moore added. “And so when you stay present, there is so much, and there’s still so much of him there. And it may not always be verbal, but it is beautiful, given the givens.”
Moore, who was married to Willis from 1987 through 2000, is still close with the Die Hard actor and has formed a close relationship with his current wife, Emma Heming Willis. While chatting with Winfrey, Moore praised Heming Willis for stepping up in the caregiver role.
“I have so much compassion for Emma in this, being a young woman. There’s no way that anybody could have anticipated where this was going to go,” Moore said. “And 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. I think that this book is gonna really be very helpful for a lot of people who are walking through this.”
Heming Willis, who was the main guest on Winfrey’s latest podcast episode, has written a book meant to help caregivers, especially those who are caring for a loved one who has FTD. The Unexpected Journey is set to be released on Sept. 9.
Willis stepped back from acting in 2022 after more than 40 years in Hollywood. These days, he’s surrounded by loved ones as he lives life completely out of the spotlight.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Sep 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.