Demi Moore calls it cruel when people make fun of her daughters

Demi Moore has gone on the defensive about her parenting decisions and her daughters. Moore is currently promoting her film “Flawless,” and said she gets upset when people make fun of her children’s appearance. Which makes sense – no mom wants to see their kid getting teased.

She does, however, get upset about treatment of her daughters – Rumer, 20, Scout, 17, and Tallulah, 14 – in certain areas of the tabloid press.

She added: “It’s straight out cruelty. Things that are just mean and cruel, like saying that they’re ‘fugly.’ I’m talking about my 14-year-old, my 17-year-old, who aren’t choosing to be in the public eye. It’s very painful, as it would be for any parent to have anybody say unkind or hurtful things about your children.”

[From Exposay]

Rumer obviously does choose to live her life in the public eye because she’s an actress, so that’s a little different. Her looks have been mocked a lot, but I haven’t really heard anyone say anything negative about Scout or Tallulah, who are more private.

There is certainly a twisted unfairness that children – any children not just the ones with famous parents – are expected to be at least as attractive as their mom and dad, if not even better looking. Anytime I meet someone’s parents and it turns out they’re much prettier/more handsome than their child, I definitely notice. When the opposite happens it doesn’t even register with me. Certainly having two extremely famous parents like Demi Moore and Bruce Willis has got to magnify that.

Demi says that she doesn’t regret the time she took off from work to raise her daughters after she and Bruce divorced. In fact she says she didn’t even process it in terms of her career – she just knew that’s what she needed to do at the time.

Demi Moore says she’d never have traded her career off against her daughters. The “Flawless” actress devoted herself to raising her three children after her marriage to Bruce Willis fell apart in the mid 90s, but says she has no regrets about her decision to retire from the spotlight of Hollywood.

Demi, 46, said: “I don’t feel bitter or angry. At the time I wasn’t thinking of whether it was bad for my career. It just didn’t matter. I just knew that my children needed to be grounded… I wouldn’t trade what I have with my children, who they are today, for a bigger pay check or bigger career. I did take a long period off at what would have been my prime time for leading lady roles.”

[From Exposay]

She also says that as a child of divorce, it was really important to her to make sure she and Bruce still got along and they were all still a family. And to their credit both of them have done a really amazing job at that. I can’t think of any parents I know that have been able to do that for their children. Obviously taking time off was the right thing for Demi to do, because her family strikes me as very intact despite the divorce.

Photos of Demi and her family at the premiere of “The House Bunny,” in which Rumor had a role. Images thanks to Fame.

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51 Responses to “Demi Moore calls it cruel when people make fun of her daughters”

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  1. xiaoecho says:

    It’s true, if children don’t inherit the best of their parents looks its a letdown – it’s only human nature.

    Society has always had the beauty norm but it has never stopped really talented people from succeeding. Yes, Rumer’s got a chin that could dig a grave but it gives her a quirky kind of beauty. In my opinion Ashlee Simpson was far better looking with her original nose. Now she is merely pretty. The truly beautiful set the standard, regardless of their looks.

    Demi’s got a lot to proud of – she should concentrate on the positives

  2. NJMDPS says:

    Get over it, Demi. She spent thousands of dollars reconstructing herself. Fine. Let us not pretend that her daughters are “beauties”…….gifts from God. They are who they are. Stop trying to force them down society’s throat. They are OK looking people. That’s all. Does everyone in that business have to think they are ALL so special???

  3. Annicka says:

    I’ve never heard anything bad about her younger daughters. They’re both very pretty, it’s just Rumer that has the unfortunate face. And since Rumer has put herself in the public eye, she doesn’t get to complain when the people who are then forced to look at her criticize her manjaw.

  4. Christina says:

    damn nj, anger issues or what? everyone’s children are special to them… or at least they should be… and i’m not getting the vibe that she thinks she’s special from this article anyway…

  5. eatavag says:

    Rumer is gorgeous. not sure why she’s got everyone and their mom saying she’s fugly. she has a wide jaw, but her face is beautiful. crazy blue eyes, thin pretty nose, amazing skin and teeth… we pick on this girl, but there’s far uglier people out there in show biz. just because she’s an actress doesn’t mean she’s invited the bloggers and the press and you people to attack her for every little flaw. i’d like to see pictures of the people who constantly mock her… probably a bunch of fuglies yourself. 🙄

  6. NJMDPS says:

    I agree, Christina, all children are special in their parents eyes. However, if you, as a parent and celebrity, are going to promote your children in the Hollywood limelight, well, then they and you better be prepared to take some heat. Perhaps I have an angry bone or two (who doesn’t?), but give us a break with Demi’s whining about her children. Enough. Don’t see Bruce out there. If her daughters are going to make it in the business they better toughen up and not rely on mommy.

  7. vdantev says:

    But not nearly as cruel as forcing a paying audience to endure your kids’ copious un-talents.

  8. Amy says:

    Who the hell asked her if she regretted choosing her children over her acting career? What a dumbass question! If I were her, I’d reply with, “Of course not, you fucktard! They are my children!”

  9. MoJo says:

    I’m not a big fan of Demi’s, Ashton’s or Rumer’s in general, but I have to say, you have to give Demi and Bruce a whole lot of credit for being such genuinely good parents, or at least trying to be and seemingly having their heads on straight when it comes to the kids.

    And that picture at the top of Demi and Rumer is a very sweet and very flattering picture. Really, I don’t think she’s unattractive at all, just a little on the plain side with a strong jaw. Frankly, all the picture-perfect girls running around have gotten boring anyway.

  10. jennifurrr says:

    Tallulah is really gorgeous…

  11. lanette says:

    Will Smith and Jada get along with his ex wife.
    Jada calls Wills son with his ex her “bonus” son and i think it is sweet.

    as for what Demi said about kids being talked about, i agree with her it is cruel.

  12. aleach says:

    MOJO-i agree with you!
    so she doesnt look like EVERY other young hollywood starlett. i think shes cute and her chin makes her unique.
    i dont think shes like supermodel material, but shes cute, thats the way she was born, and she seems ok with it.
    we all have some imperfections im sure we’d like to fix…were just not in the spotlight for everyone to nit pick! (by her own choosing, i know)

  13. Bodhi says:

    Rumer is an actress? Really? Who knew?

    And that picture at the top of Demi and Rumer is a very sweet and very flattering picture. Really, I don’t think she’s unattractive at all, just a little on the plain side with a strong jaw. Frankly, all the picture-perfect girls running around have gotten boring anyway.

    I completely agree with all of that! All of the grownups involved in the girls’ lives have behaved amazingly well & clearly put them first.

    I also think that Demi spending upwards of $400,000 on plastic surgery has got to have created a warped body image for those girls

  14. Granger says:

    I think it’s great that Rumer isn’t “classically” beautiful in an industry filled with carbon copy models-turned-actresses. HOWEVER, I don’t believe she’d be in the position she’s in now (that is, appearing in mainstream films, on magazine covers, and at big Hollywood parties) if it weren’t for her parents. It’s awful to say, but she isn’t pretty enough. (And she doesn’t have the talent either, but that’s less important in the industry these days.) Looks matter, and if Rumer weren’t a Willis, hers wouldn’t be opening any doors.

    Funny, but I’ve never thought of Demi OR Bruce as particularly good looking, so I don’t look at their kids and think, huh, must be tough to be less attractive than mom or dad. I think Demi’s really rather “average” looking, certainly not someone who’d turn your head on the street if she were “just” a regular person. She’s another example of how the best hair and make-up artists, expensive clothes, and a lot of time spent at the spa and in the gym can turn a regular person into a “beautiful celebrity.” (Not to mention how much plastic surgery the woman’s had.)

  15. boomchakaboom says:

    Like my mom used to say:

    Every mama crow thinks her baby crows are the blackest.

    Get it?

  16. doodahs says:

    I think she made a good choice raising them out of the public eye after the divorce and staying friends with Bruce. Back then, paps weren’t quite so insane but had she paraded them around LA after the divorce, the weird publicity might have fucked those kids heads up. The whole family always looks so at ease and happy in photographs – gotta give ’em credit for that.

    I read an article with Rumer and she came across as quite smart. She is well aware of what people say about her looks and responded with a “I like me and I’m happy with that” sort of answer. I know other celeb kids (who don’t get negative press about their looks) and maaaan, are they terminally insecure – it’s actually kind of suffocating to be around…. So I give the Willis girls props. They seem to be comfortable in their own skins.

  17. moonfry says:

    I like that family picture. That’s cool they are all together, and it seems pretty clear that they are genuine family-oriented. You can’t fake the time and groundedness the family has. If you could, then living blohan and Denise Richards: It’s really not that complicated might still be on air.

  18. Ana' says says:

    I’m sorry Demi, but your spawn doesn’t get a pass. The only kid of yours that I’ve seen derogatory comments made about is Rumer. Ah, yes, Rumer, a do nothing publicity w.h.o.r.e. that shows up at openings or events to get her picture taken. Oh and is given minor movie parts not because of her acting chops but because of her lineage. Sorry, she’s fair game.

  19. frewt says:

    Rumer IS good looking and she’s unique -so her chin’s a little big, so what? Its only in this day and age of absolute plastic perfection that people think she’s ugly and I’ve noticed that most of the criticism comes from young Americans whos aesthetic ideals were shaped by Disney and Mattel. Don’t be so fucking cruel and superficial, people.

  20. chick says:

    if she feels that strongly about it why doesn’t she spend some money reconstructing them too? or does she want to be the only beauty in the house? methinks she doth protest too much.

  21. Anastasia Beaverhausen says:

    I call bullshit on this. I’ve never heard or read anything disparaging about the looks of her two younger daughters.

    What kind of message did she send with her nearly half a million dollars of plastic surgery?

    That being said, I do think they did a good job after the divorce and keeping the family intact.

  22. Leandra says:

    The cookie cutter type of good looking Hollywood types are totally boring. They all look the same. I like someone like Rumer who looks a little different and has some character to her face.

  23. A.J. says:

    I think Rumer is beautiful. She’s got a unique, quirky look that no one else has. And I’d much rather look at her than to look at yet another tan, blonde, fake-ass wannabe-Barbie bimbo. She doesn’t seem to be as in-your-face as some other celebutards, either. I don’t understand all the ire for the girl; she has yet to get a string of DUIs, flash her crotch while exiting a car, shave her head in plain view of the public and paparazzi, or do otherwise stupid shit.

  24. HEB says:

    Well she says she’s only talking about Scout and Tallulah, but no one calls them fugly anyway–I’ve only heard them say that about Rumer and she brings that on herself.

  25. tigerlille says:

    I am loving Demi as a mother, and she is evidently a really good mother.

    I am stunned by the anger expressed by some of the commentators.

    Get a life people, and learn to establish some boundaries. If a celebrity mother speaking protectively of her children angers you to this extent, there is something terribly wrong in your life These celebrities are not people that you know or have a personal relationship with. And the fact that someone chooses to pursue a career that is in the public eye does not entitle you to make cruel and malicious criticisms of them. Gossip that is lively and observant and witty is one thing, but outright cruelty is another, and says more about the critic than anyone else.

  26. Christina X says:

    I don’t care much for Demi Moore at all, nor do I care much for Rumer. She’s a famewhore. etc, blah blah blah.

    But why the hell should Rumer change her appearance if she wants to be famous? I think that THERE is what’s wrong with Hollywood.

  27. SeVen says:

    I like Rumer shes a good role model for the rest of us ” i dont look like a model” girls. Kudos! And i used to have a major thing for Bruce back in the day. Watching Die Hard … the first one mind you, takes me back… oh lawd.

  28. Jenna says:

    Rumer is attractive in her own rights. Her body is to die for, I’ll give her that. But certain angles of a camera can make her look less flattering. She isn’t unattractive by far as there are other ‘beauties’ in Hollywood who have undergone surgery and they look horrible.

    Kudos to Rumer and Demi!

  29. Catlady says:

    Rumer IS good looking and she’s unique -so her chin’s a little big, so what? Its only in this day and age of absolute plastic perfection that people think she’s ugly and I’ve noticed that most of the criticism comes from young Americans whos aesthetic ideals were shaped by Disney and Mattel. Don’t be so fucking cruel and superficial, people.

    YES. A thousand times YES.

  30. Kat says:

    Your children are beautiful. Ignore those stupid people that say they are fugly. I’m sure the people that write that crap, aren’t exactly beauty queens themselves.

  31. geronimo says:

    Of course she’s right to be angry and defend her kids but I agree with all the comments here pointing to Demi’s hypocracy – by her own actions, she plainly thinks how someone looks is the be all and end all of everything.

    Full of the talk, as so many celebs are, but falls flat on her botoxed, surgically-enhanced face when it comes to walking the walk.

  32. jennifer says:

    all her children are fugly 😯

  33. heehee says:

    I like the remark about having flimsy beauty norms always held up, but that real talent and ability wont keep you from rising to the top.
    besides, its SO boring when everyone up there is the same and their “admiration” is just GIVEN to them because they look like what theyre expected to; and not because they blazed their won trail and wrote their own rules and turned the establishment upside down.
    I prefer to admire someone who deserves it. 8)

  34. Tess says:

    If the “Flat Earth Society” is looking for a celeb to champion their cause, Demi would be perfect.

    Never noticed before but the back of her head’s flatter than a pancake.

  35. Codzilla says:

    geronimo: Exactly.

  36. Frenchie says:

    Genetic is a bitch, Man ! You will be facing your pre-surgery self when looking at your teenagers.
    This extends the debate to the meaning of surgery, I would never touch up my nose because it’s a family inheritance

  37. raven says:

    Demi came from a background much like Britney Spears so her success is more impressive. She never had any of those trailer trash antics. I have always liked her comments in interviews and, generally, she is quite positive and grateful for what she has.

    I think the surgery comments are a bit over the top. She was pretty normal at the beginning of her career doing soap operas. Someone who was friends with her at that time commented on her gaining weight and putting on muscle for strip tease and her military film, as well as the breast implants for strip tease. I don’t believe that she’s had a lot more surgery–maybe some surface skin stuff.

    As far as Rumer, she acted as Demi’s daughter in Strip Tease and has always been interested in a career in film. Not all attractive parents have features that combine well. Willis’ wider jaw on a female is not a great asset. However, in some shots Rumer is quite attractive and, as someone else pointed out, she has a killer body. I do believe that came from her mom’s side as Demi has a naturally good body, maintained by her own self discipline.

  38. puffnstuff says:

    personally I don;t think intentionally took time off of Hollywood, I think the public just got sick of her…that’s why she disappeared

  39. frewt says:

    I think the story about Demi having half a million dollars worth of surgery is one of those Hollywood myths that has just grown out of all proportion. She doesn’t look substantially altered from the 80’s at all – the breasts being obvious exceptions. And look at her slightly hooked nose and thinnish lips, hardly the blow up doll look of the moment, is it? I also do not see obvious signs of a face lift either. What I’m saying is, the criticism of her being totally plastic is just not reasonable. So she spends a bit of money on staying in shape – don’t we all within our means?

  40. nag says:

    I think people grow into their features that make them attractive.

  41. Lia says:

    Unfortunately for the girls, Moore pretty much ensured that they would be made fun of the minute she gave them those ridiculous, attention-seeking names. She got the “what the hell…?” reaction she was looking for, and it has continued ever since. What’s she complaining about now?

  42. YupIdid says:

    To those of you telling her to get over herself… this are excerpts from an interview. She didn’t give a press conference saying “Stop saying horrible things about my daughters”, she was obviously asked about it and this was her response. I can’t imagine how I would feel seeing/hearing people saying horrible things about the way my daughter looks. She has every right to say that she’s upset when she hears people calling her kids “fugly”. What parent wouldn’t?

  43. Jeanne says:

    How dare they…beat their asses Demi.
    I’m sure Ashton Kutcher thinks they’re pretty.

  44. Sickitten says:

    Demi cannot handle reality. She never could. Did you know her Mom did a Playboy spread?

  45. bwoz says:

    Right on Ana – this girl, Rumer, is surfing the tide of her celebrity parents…poor Demi – get over it…she’s an adult, let her take her own heat.

    OR, how about this perspective?? MY son, who is about the same age, will be deploying to Iraq in February, where he faces potential death? How the F**K does “poor Rumer’s” tribulations match up against that, b1tch, huh? Get an effing grip, Hollywood. You have NO IDEA what real life is like.

  46. Gwen says:

    I feel for her. don’t worry demi, you and your babies will be just fine.

    😮

  47. whatevs says:

    The younger two are alright, I just don’t find Rumer attractive at all. Yeah, she has some nice features, but as a whole….not so much.

  48. I can’t imagine how I would feel seeing/hearing people saying horrible things about the way my daughter looks.

  49. Mugsy says:

    I think Demi’s children are not your typical plastic stereotype Hollywood types, and therefore refreshing on the eye.

  50. Susan says:

    It’s cruel to talk about anyone’s appearance. I remember on an episode of Punk’d Ashton calling ugly people “fuglies”, so, what goes around comes around.

  51. Atina says:

    I am also not fan of Demi at all, but I must say that she is doing a great job with her daughters.