Emma Heming Willis Remembers 2009 Met Gala: ‘What a Fox’—Her Sweet Tribute to Bruce Willis!

On fashion’s most iconic night, Emma Heming Willis brought fans back to a memory that still shines with charm and devotion. As the 2025 Met Gala lit up headlines this week, the 46-year-old model and caregiver took to Instagram Stories to share a sentimental throwback from her 2009 Met Gala appearance with husband Bruce Willis—an event that marked their first and only appearance at the lavish ball as newlyweds.

Clad in a plunging V-neck black gown that embodied the evening’s theme, “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion,” Emma stood alongside Bruce, who wore a timeless black tuxedo. In the photo she reposted, the two are seen smiling warmly at each other, radiating the joy of a newlywed couple embracing the spotlight. “My Met date. What a fox,” she captioned the image, giving fans a rare glimpse into their early romance.

The post, originally shared in 2022, also included more candid moments from the red carpet. “One of the many reasons I fell hard for Bruce was because he never takes anything too seriously,” Emma reflected. “As you can clearly see here at our first (and last 😂) Met Gala, as newlyweds back in 2009. He’s just up for a good time no matter where or when and I’m here for it.”

The couple’s story began in 2007 and led to marriage two years later. Since then, they’ve built a blended family of five children: daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, as well as Bruce’s daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore—Rumer, 36, Scout, 33, and Tallulah, 31. Together, Emma and Bruce have weathered profound highs and lows, especially following Bruce’s retirement from acting in 2022 due to aphasia, later revealed to be frontotemporal dementia.

Though the pair were not expected at this year’s Met Gala, their hearts have been full with family milestones. Bruce recently celebrated his 70th birthday, and in March, he and Emma marked their 16th wedding anniversary. In honor of the occasion, Emma wrote an emotional Instagram tribute reflecting on their journey: “We’ve shared monumental highs and devastating lows, and through it all, we’ve built something timeless.”

As Emma prepares to release her book The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path this September, her tribute serves as a poignant reminder of enduring love—and the beauty of finding joy, even in life’s most unexpected turns.