Tallulah Willis, the 30-year-old daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, recently revealed that she was diagnosed with autism while sharing a heartwarming throwback video of herself attending an event with her father when she was a child. In the Instagram post, Tallulah joked about her behavior in the clip, captioning it, "Tell me your [sic] autistic without telling me your [sic] autistic."
The video shows a young Tallulah casually rubbing her father's bald head and playing with his ear during a red carpet interview. Fans quickly flooded the comments section with messages of love and support, with many asking about her journey to discovering her autism diagnosis.
Tallulah responded to one comment, revealing that this was the first time she had publicly shared her diagnosis. "Found out this summer and it's changed my life," she wrote. Another fan praised her for being "neurospicy," a slang term used for individuals who fall under the neurodivergent umbrella, which includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome. Tallulah embraced the term, replying with a heart-eyes emoji.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is classified by the National Institute of Mental Health as a neurological and developmental condition that can affect how individuals interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. In recent years, it has been recognized that women have often received diagnoses much later in life compared to men, as much of the research on autism was conducted on boys and men, and symptoms may present differently across genders.
According to Autism Speaks, signs of autism usually present around ages 2-3. However, these signs can be missed because autism is a spectrum, and pediatricians may want to give a patient time to develop before making a diagnosis, as stated by the Child Mind Institute.
Tallulah's openness about her autism diagnosis is not the first time she has been transparent about her health on social media. In February, she shared a candid post about her history with eating disorders, admitting that she was "romanticizing unhealthy times" and how it felt to move through the day in a smaller body. She first revealed her struggle with anorexia in a personal essay for Vogue in May 2023.
In her February post, Tallulah shared a series of childhood photos, acknowledging the internal conflict she experiences when looking back at her younger self. "This little raggymuffin is so special and it's strange to know that and want to give her abundance and vitality - LIFE! whilst at the EXACT same moment feeling pulled by an old desire, deep down from the pit spot in your belly, to compare to the 'better' version of me," she wrote. "AND it's ok to be in the middle of the messy and not totally have it all sorted yet."
Tallulah's revelation about her autism diagnosis has been met with an outpouring of support from fans and followers, many of whom have expressed their happiness for her and the potential impact her story could have on others who may be struggling with similar experiences. As one fan commented, "I'm so happy you got the diagnosis and found it helpful. When done properly it can be truly life changing, deeply validating, and empowering."
By sharing her personal journey with autism and her late diagnosis, Tallulah Willis is helping to raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum, particularly women who may have gone undiagnosed for years. Her openness and vulnerability serve as an inspiration to others who may be struggling with similar experiences, reminding them that they are not alone and that it is never too late to gain a deeper understanding of oneself.
