Tallulah Willis Recalls Lesson From Mom Demi Moore She Once 'Hated So Much'

Tallulah Willis can appreciate the wisdom imparted by her parents, exes Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, now that she’s learned to accept her autism diagnosis.

“One of the things that has been really beautiful to explore is this ability to give grace to myself. That was something that my dad really instilled in me at a young age,” Tallulah, 30, exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, October 22, while discussing her upcoming appearance at the 2024 Autism Speaks Gala, where she is among the honorees. “You know, he was a big proponent of being gentle with yourself, and it’s very easy for me to judge all of the aspects of my life that are my autism, because I have been in a world where I’ve experienced those things to be deterrents.”

Bruce, 69, and Moore, 61, were married between 1987 and 2000, and share daughters Rumer, 35, Scout, 33, and Tallulah. The Die Hard actor also has two younger daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, with wife Emma Heming Willis. Bruce currently suffers from frontotemporal dementia.

Tallulah, for her part, was diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in summer 2023 at age 29. (While Tallulah was only diagnosed as an adult, she noticed certain behaviors growing up, including feeling “overstimulated by sound.”)

Tallulah Willis Reveals She Was Recently Diagnosed With Autism

“I can see the impact my parents have had — they have really tried to encourage slowing down, which is one of the hardest things in the world,” Tallulah told Us. “I moved a mile a minute. … There is an exciting energy about me and I always want to get stuff done. I always want to move really fast.”

According to Tallulah, Moore used to always tell her, “Slow is fast, Tallulah.”

“I hated it so much,” Tallulah recalled. “Now my boyfriend [Justin Acee], I told him that, so then he will sometimes say it, and I am like, ‘Ah, but also you’re kind of right, and also fine.’ It’s kind of a through line. We all can benefit from slowing down, whether it’s to see the other people in your life and what they’re going through, or noticing what you’re going through.”

In addition to heeding her parents’ advice, Tallulah has found other ways to accept her diagnosis.

“There’s no pill, there’s no fix, there’s no getting rid of it,” she said on Tuesday. “That’s actually not what the intention is, [it’s] finding and carving out a way individually for each person, because each person’s autism is about their own experience, giving out a life that feels the most supportive. I just keep coming back to that it’s OK to want support.”

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Tallulah’s four sisters have also been “amazing” pillars of support.

“One of the biggest things that I’ve seen shift since having my diagnosis is they will check in with me a lot of the times before I’ll even need to ask for something — it’s just kind of negotiating interaction,” Tallulah gushed. “They will check-in. I think it’s just that extra sensitivity, that extra mindfulness because I don’t know any other way than being hyper-aware of my surroundings. … It’s very appreciated to feel thought about in that way, as well as them being my best friends. I think we are very special, and my little sisters as well. They, in their own ways, support me.”

Tallulah will be honored for her health journey at the annual Autism Speaks Gala, which takes place in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 24. Rumer will even introduce Tallulah on the stage.

“I still can’t believe that I am getting honored, in the sense that I had imposter syndrome,” Tallulah said. “[When] I got my diagnosis, the impact and relief that I had on my life was unprecedented. I’m still waiting for someone to take it away. And so, the fact that I’m being not only acknowledged by friends and family but universally honored … [I’m] gobsmacked.”

She added, “It’s an honor, it’s surreal, It’s exciting. I know that I have to make a small speech, which I’m very nervous about, but I know that no matter what, people are there to cheer me on versus wait for me to make a mistake.”

With reporting by Amanda Williams