Lala Kent ex Randall Emmett accused of exploiting Bruce Willis

Hollywood tough guy Bruce Willis shocked the world in March when his family announced he would be retiring due to a devastating aphasia diagnosis.

In the aftermath, it was revealed that the 67-year-old’s illness was an open secret and that he was protected by friends and family as he continued to act.

But a disturbing new report from the Los Angeles Times reveals how the ailing star was allegedly exploited by embattled film producer Randall Emmett. The story also accused Emmett, 51, of defrauding investors, using drugs, attacking his ex-fiancée — ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star Lala Kent, 31 — and offering acting roles for sexual favors.

« His normal modus operandi is sketchy, » Teresa Huang, a writer who worked with Emmett, told the newspaper.

In September 2020, Emmett was directing Willis in « Midnight In the Switchgrass » and couldn’t get the actor to kick down a door — even with the help of a stunt coordinator, according to multiple crew members. Frustrated, he left the set and a confused Willis asked, « Did I do something wrong? »

“You would have to be blind not to see it struggling,” said Alicia Haverland, a property manager on the film.

That night, Emmett reportedly called his then-fiancée, Kent, in tears. « I can’t do this anymore, » Kent said. » It’s so sad. Bruce does not remember any of his lines. He doesn’t know where he is. (Emmett denied numerous allegations in the LA Times story. He said that conversation did not take place and that he was unaware of Willis’ declining health.)

But he didn’t stop working with the ‘Die Hard’ star. After that phone call, he went on to do five more action movies with Willis and reportedly used the A-lister as a cash cow for Emmett/Furla Oasis, his former production company with partner George Furla.

When the couple needed a cash injection to pay off their debts, they would discuss making « another bulls movie – t Bruce Willis », according to former assistant Anna Szymanska.

Emmett carved out a niche for himself in Tinseltown by churning out bad movies with aging action stars such as Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino and Willis, the latter reportedly earning $2 million for two days of work. While domestic direct-to-DVD flops, the films would be financial successes in international markets.

The Miami native rose through the showbiz ranks with effervescence, first becoming part of Mark Wahlberg’s real-life entourage as an assistant, then directing the hit « Lone Survivor » with his former boss. As his production credits grew, so did his lavish lifestyle, which included piloting private jets and driving a Rolls-Royce – both of which he flaunted on ‘Vanderpump Rules’.

Then there was a 2019 beef with 50 Cent, who loaned Emmett, a producer on his « Power » show, $1 million. The rapper said he was behind on paying off the debt and grilled Emmett and Kent on social media. The couple settled in quickly, but the ‘Candy Shop’ artist poked fun at his former foe on Instagram after Bruce Willis’ bomsbhell story was posted.

Beginning in 2006, Willis appeared in two dozen EFO films, even as his health declined. On « Wrong Place, » one of the ‘Sixth Sense’ star’s final films, he spent two days on set in Alabama where he was fed lines through an earpiece.

Szymanska recalled Willis with an assistant still by his side. However, « when no one from Bruce’s crew was around, the crew would say how sad it was to see him in this condition. »

Willis’ attorney, Marty Singer, declined an interview on the star’s behalf.

But the attorney defended Willis’ work with Emmett. « My client continued to work after his medical diagnosis because he wanted to work and was able to, just like many others diagnosed with aphasia who are able to continue working, » Singer said, adding that the actor has brought people jobs during the pandemic.

In a statement to the LA Times, Emmett blamed Kent – with whom he is locked in a custody battle over their one-year-old daughter Ocean – for the salacious allegations.

He called them « fake and part of a now familiar smear campaign orchestrated by [his] ex-fiancée to influence their custody dispute. The couple separated last October, and Kent later said he was dating a 23-year-old girl shortly after giving birth was the reason.

In the LA Times article, Kent alleged that when she confronted her ex about her suspicions of cheating and tried to grab her phone, he tackled her, a claim that Emmett and his longtime nanny date argue saying the fight wasn’t physical.

« I used every ounce of force to pull him away from me as he tried to snatch him out of my hands, » Lala said, adding, « That’s when I knew, for sure, that he was hiding a lot of things. »