Rumer Willis, the daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, said growing up in the shadow of her beautiful, skinny mom made her feel ugly and fat. Rumer said she was called an ugly “Potato Head” by tabloids and was repeatedly told she resembled comedian Jay Leno, who’s known for his prominent chin.
“I just didn’t feel like we were even the same caliber,” Rumer told Us. “I would go, ‘My mom wears smaller jeans than me! Maybe I’m not skinny enough.'”
Willis, 27, is competing on season 20 of Dancing With the Stars, where she has shared her story of childhood bullying. Rumer is thrilled that after discussing her experiences, she’s being hailed as a role model for self-acceptance.
“That feels great,” said Rumer, who’s a frontrunner to win DWTS. “There aren’t enough people out there saying what I’m saying. You don’t have to change to be successful and beautiful. Just be you.'”
Willis, who grew up being taunted by tabloids and Internet trolls who mocked her looks, said bullying has to stop. “People are doing such emotional damage and breeding negativity online, especially among women,” said Rumer.
Willis said she considered getting plastic surgery after being repeatedly mocked for her prominent chin. “‘Potato Head’ was a term that everyone used,” said Rumer. “I was just so insecure with who I was that I kept trying to change myself to fit into what I thought everyone wanted.
Willis added: “Everyone was comparing me to [my mom], saying, ‘You look more like your very masculine father than your beautiful mom.’ “
Rumer’s mom, Demi, said the constant taunting of her three daughters infuriated her. “The tabloid bullying all three of my children have experienced, especially in their teens, has truly been painful,” said Moore, 52.
“No child should be subjected to that type of judgment or criticism, especially based on their looks. As a parent, all you can do is love them and keep loving them until they love themselves.”
Both Rumer and Demi Deny Getting Plastic Surgery
Rumer has fueled media speculation she got plastic surgery to shave down her chin and jawline, but she denied going under the knife.
In October 2014, reports surfaced that Demi was furious Rumer had gotten plastic surgery to make her chin smaller. Sources said Demi thought Rumer looked fine without surgery and lectured her about the dangers of plastic surgery.
But Rumer has insisted she didn’t get plastic surgery and wouldn’t hide it if she did. “I know there’s something that came up recently about me getting plastic surgery and it’s not true,” said Willis. “If I want to get a boob job or change things about myself, I’m not going to lie.”
Meanwhile, Demi has been the subject of numerous plastic surgery reports over the years. Moore reportedly got $500,000 in cosmetic procedures, including breast implants, a face lift, liposuction, a body lift and a knee cap lift.
Like her daughter Rumer, Demi has denied getting plastic surgery on her face. “[The constant cosmetic surgery speculation] feels like schoolyard name-calling; it hurts,” said Moore. “Maybe one day I’ll go under the knife. It just irritates me that people are constantly saying how much I’ve spent on plastic surgery.”
Demi Moore said she is extremely proud of Rumer, who’s a frontrunner to win season 20 of “Dancing With the Stars,” thanks to her amazing dance skills. “I am so proud of Rumer and excited for people to be seeing what I have seen since she was a little girl,” said Moore. “She is incredibly talented, and I love seeing her light shine!”