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Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis’ efforts to advocate for patients and caretakers continue with her take on Gene Hackman’s death. The legendary actor and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their Santa Fe home on February 26. Emma addressed the heartbreaking incident on Instagram, using it as a reminder for fans to prioritize their caregivers’ wellbeing.
In her video, Emma noted she typically did not comment on incidents like the Hackmans’ “tragic passing.” However, she believed there was a valuable lesson to be learned in their story. “It’s just made me think of this broader story. And that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital,” she said, adding:
“And that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person. I think that there’s this common misconception that, like, caregivers, they got it figured out. They got it covered. They’re good. I don’t subscribe to that.”
Emma implored viewers to understand how necessary it was to show up for caregivers. She explained that caring for them ensured they could continue to fulfill their roles. She echoed similar sentiments in the post’s caption, writing, “Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers.”
Inside Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Tragic Passing
Emma’s comments on the importance of caregivers stemmed from recent updates on Hackman and Arakawa’s passing. We covered the story, reporting investigations had finally revealed the cause of the pair’s deaths. The Superman actor’s wife died first from a rare disease called hantavirus. Mice transmit the virus, and it has a 42% fatality rate, according to the state public health veterinarian. Hackman died a week after his wife died from natural causes, with his pacemaker registering abnormal cardiac activity on February 18. The chief medical examiner rep noted he was “in a very poor state of health.”
Her investigations uncovered that he died due to “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer’s disease as a significant contributory factor.” Many theorized that Arakawa was her husband’s primary caretaker, and her death left him unable to fend for himself. Hackman presumably wandered the house, unable to comprehend the situation due to his highly deteriorated mental state. Without anyone to feed him or give him his medication, his heart eventually failed him.
Emma Heming Shares Cryptic Message About Emotions Amid Bruce Willis’ Health Battle
Four months before addressing the Hackmans’ passing, Emma seemingly shared her feelings amid her husband’s dementia battle. She dropped a cryptic post on her Instagram Story, which featured different emotions, including confusion, anxiousness, and nervousness. “Looks about right,” Emma captioned the post, presumably referencing her own feelings. This wasn’t the first time she has been vocal about her struggles following Bruce’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2023.
She once noted she was trying to find the balance between the grief and sadness she experienced. Emma stressed that it wasn’t easy, especially breaking the news to her two young daughters. She claimed they understood their father’s disease had no cure, and his condition might worsen with time. Despite the grim future awaiting them, the model actively advocates for FTD patients and caregivers.
Rest in peace, Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa.
