Demi Moore Files Legal Declaration Against Rumer Willis's Ex Amid Custody Dispute Over Granddaughter Louetta

Demi Moore has formally entered her daughter Rumer Willis's ongoing custody battle, submitting a legal declaration against Rumer's ex-partner, musician Derek Richard Thomas, 30. In the document, Moore alleges she was present during Louetta's home birth in April 2023 and that Thomas's conduct on that occasion was deeply disruptive — claiming his behaviour undermined what ought to have been a significant and joyful event. The declaration, first reported by People magazine, forms part of a wider legal dispute that has been unfolding since the couple's split in 2024.

A source close to the family told Closer magazine that Moore, 62, has become intensely focused on protecting both her daughter and her three-year-old granddaughter. "Demi is in full protective mode," the insider said, noting that neither Moore nor Rumer has been sleeping well as the case progresses. "The stakes are just too high," the source added. "Rumer is already going through so much with her dad being sick. The last thing she needs is to be dealing with this court battle, but there's no chance she will back down."

Also Read: Demi Moore's Dramatic Year: Custody Battle Fury, Heartbreaking Loss and Her Powerful Message on Ageing

Rumer's Allegations and the Background to the Dispute

The legal documents, which emerged last July, include allegations from Rumer, 37, that Thomas engaged in a persistent pattern of emotional abuse during their relationship — conduct she claims frequently occurred in the presence of their daughter. Rumer has alleged that this behaviour caused Louetta lasting distress. Thomas has not yet publicly responded to the specific allegations contained in the filings.

Rumer has spoken separately about the moment she resolved to end the relationship. Appearing on stylist Maeve Reilly's podcast The Inside Edit, she described attending a friend's wedding in 2024 and realising, while listening to the couple's vows, that her own relationship would never reflect what she was witnessing. "I need to go and leave, no matter how scared I am, and find something that looks like this," she said, describing the period she had been through as both brutal and clarifying. The couple had gone public in November 2022 and announced their pregnancy the following month, welcoming Louetta in April 2023.

A Family Facing Multiple Pressures Simultaneously

The custody dispute has unfolded against a particularly difficult backdrop for the wider family. Bruce Willis, 71, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, a progressive condition that has significantly affected his communication and daily functioning. His care has required a sustained effort from those closest to him, and sources say the emotional weight on the family remains considerable.

For Moore, who has recently spoken publicly about entering what she has described as a rewarding new phase of her life — following her critically recognised performance in The Substance — the current situation represents a sharp contrast to the professional momentum she has been experiencing. Those close to her say she has made the welfare of Rumer and Louetta her immediate priority and has no intention of stepping back from the legal proceedings until she is satisfied both are protected.