Everything We Know About Rumer Willis' Relationship With Boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas
Before Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas were officially a couple, it became clear that the two were interested in each other as they frequently posted about each other on social media. In May 2022, Willis attended a show where the singer and the Hail Maries performed. She uploaded footage from the performance and plugged the band on her Instagram. "@derekrichardthomas and @thehailmaries are the most talented singers and songwriters I have heard in a very long time (maybe ever)," the "House Bunny" actor wrote. The next month, the two were spotted hanging out in Beverly Hills together. They continued to spend time with one another and were photographed shopping for produce at a market in July 2022. Speculation started to form that the pair could be romantically involved.
A major hint about their relationship status was dropped on Willis' birthday in August 2022. Thomas uploaded a snap to Instagram from when the two went to a Rolling Stones concert and proceeded to fawn over her in the caption. "In the short time we've been together you have filled my life with joy and peace," the musician shared. "Thank you for being you ... you're a magical human," he wrote with a kiss-face emoji.
Later that month, Willis rocked out with her father, Bruce Willis, who played the accordion while Thomas played the guitar. Bruce's wife, Emma Heming Willis, uploaded the footage online. It appeared that Thomas was much more than a friend to Rumer and was becoming part of the Willis family.
Rumer Willis was pregnant soon after
After months of speculation, Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas came clean about their relationship status in a joint Instagram post. In November 2022, they uploaded an adorable fall-themed photo set of the pair with a backdrop of a wooded area. There were no grand declarations in the caption, but they included a snap of the "Hostage" actor planting a kiss on Thomas' cheek, plus a photo of the two kissing.
A little over a month later, on December 20, 2022, the couple made a major announcement when they let fans know they were expecting their first child. Both Willis and Thomas uploaded a black-and-white photo set to Instagram where the musician kissed his girlfriend's baby bump. Once again, the pair decided to forego a lengthy caption and instead opted for simply using a seedling emoji.
The child would be the first grandbaby for ex-couple Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, who were both ecstatic about the news. Moore wasted no time celebrating publicly. The day after Rumer's post, Moore uploaded an Instagram snap of her own where her daughter was getting an ultrasound. Rumer's sisters, Scout Willis and Tallulah Willis, came along for support as well. It was also reported that Bruce was also excited about the big news. "He loves having a big family," a source told People.
Why Rumer Willis embraced motherhood
It was only a matter of months between the time Rumer Willis and Derek Richard Thomas were first seen hanging out together, and when they announced that a baby was on the way. However, the "Dancing With the Stars" alum was unbothered by the timing. Willis spoke about the unexpected pregnancy while appearing on the "Bathroom Chronicles" podcast. "[There was] never a question for me that I wanted to be a mom," she said. The prospect of having a child was not daunting to Willis. "And that just felt like such a divine purpose and something that when I started thinking about it, felt like such joy," she added. Willis told Thomas that one of the aspects of motherhood she most looked forward to was bringing her baby to the market. Even that seemingly mundane activity was exciting to the mother-to-be.
On March 12, Demi Moore threw a baby shower for her daughter. It was a mixed-family affair as Scout Willis and Tallulah Willis were in attendance alongside Rumer's other sisters, Evelyn Willis and Mabel Willis. Not only were all the Willis sisters at the shower, but the father-to-be also joined the festivities. Thomas played piano at the shower and Rumer sang along for the crowd.
While Rumer had been slightly coy in previous posts about her beau, she gushed over him in a heartfelt Valentine's Day Instagram post. "I have never been so happy in my life," Rumer wrote.