At 29, Tallulah Willis finally found clarity when she was diagnosed with autism, and now Rumer Willis is praising her “extraordinary sister” for “building a community” for others who have been overlooked.
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Tallulah, now 30, revealed her diagnosis in March 2024. After a lifetime of struggles and misdiagnosis, she admitted that learning about her autism “changed [her] life.”
“It was a relief,” she said during a September apperance on Today. “If I’m being honest, I really hated myself. And I thought I was very broken, so to learn that the elements of myself that I felt were maladies or wrong or just too much for this world are actually OK, and they just require maybe a little bit more tools.”
On October 24, Rumer took the stage at the Autism Speaks Los Angeles Gala—where her sister was honored for her advocacy—and shared her pride for Tallulah’s journey to self-awareness.
“From the very start, she stood out — not just for her creativity, which was wild and boundless, but for the way she seemed to exist on a slightly different frequency from the rest of us,” she began. “While other kids were coloring inside the lines, she was busy inventing her own worlds. And honestly, most of us were lucky just to keep up.”
Rumer Willis went on to explain that Tallulah also had sensitivities that were difficult to navigate. Autism gave her “a way of experiencing the world that was both beautiful and, at times, overwhelming.”
“Things most people never think about — textures, noises, crowded rooms — could feel like insurmountable hurdles,” she continued.
Tallulah Willis Is Dedicated To “Building A Community” For Others With Autism
Growing up, Rumer struggled to watch her sister find solutions. Because she was misdiagnosed, “it was like she had all the ingredients for peace but was stuck trying to make a recipe without the instructions.” When Tallulah learned the truth, it was like a “homecoming.”
Rumer said Tallulah finally had “permission” to be herself “without apology or explanation.” Because of that, she quickly grew into herself, and Rumer admitted that the transformation was “breathtaking.”
“It’s like watching someone finally exhale after holding their breath for years,” she gushed. “She’s found comfort in her skin, not by changing who she is, but by embracing it fully — quirks, sensitivities and all.”
The experience has led Talluah Willis to help others like her. She is focused on “building a community” where others, “especially women, who are often overlooked,” can find “understanding and belonging.”
“This isn’t work for her,” Rumer noted. “It’s a deep calling to show up and be of service. And she’s already making an impact that will resonate far beyond tonight.”
This story’s featured image is by Ovidiu Hrubaru via Shutterstock.
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