Ashton Kutcher Applauds Rumer Willis' Showstopping Performance

USMagazine, Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 11:36am (PST)

By Us Weekly

• He may not longer be Demi Moore's husband, but Ashton Kutcher, 34, is still a father figure in the eyes of Rumer Willis, 23.

  The "Two and a Half Men" star and a male friend arrived just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to support the aspiring singer during her performance at The Sayers Club in L.A. Wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and a red flannel knit, Kutcher "immediately joined Rumer's large table," an eyewitness tells Us Weekly. "Rumer seemed happy to see Ashton there, supporting her on her big night."

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  The two chatted on the couch before Willis went backstage to prep for her mini-concert. Willis, who wore bright red lipstick to match her red nails, "didn't say a word before taking the small stage," the eyewitness says. "As she began singing, Ashton stood up and stood a bit closer to the stage so he had a clear and close view of Rumer."

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  With the crowd cheering her on "non-stop," Willis "looked confident and proud." As she performed her second number, "I Can't Stand the Rain," Kutcher "smiled as he slowly bopped his head along to her song. He kept his arms crossed and never took his eyes off the stage," the eyewitness says. "Ashton looked like a proud father. He was beaming!"

  For her final song, Willis performed a cover of Otis Redding's "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay."

  "Alright, you guys," Willis told the crowd. "I know you all know this one, so I want to hear the slow clap at first."

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  "Ashton was swaying along and began whistling with his two fingers as she got into the song. Rumer nailed it! She sounded amazing -- very soulful," the eyewitness tells Us. "The crowd couldn't stop cheering and clapping as she finished. Rumer had a huge smile and blushed as she took a small bow."

  Just before 1 a.m., Willis rejoined Kutcher and her friends at their table, where Kutcher "gave her a huge hug to congratulate her."

  "It was a very loving and genuine hug," the eyewitness explains. "Ashton looked so proud and pleased to be supporting Rumer, and Rumer seemed so excited to have his support. They had a solid 10-second hug before Ashton got his guy friend and casually left through the back. He was strictly there to support Rumer."

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  Kutcher, 34, wasn't the only celebrity in the audience: Revenge costars Ashley Madekwe, Connor Paolo and Christa B. Allen were there, as were former Gossip Girl stars Jessica Szohr and Sebastian Stan.

  Willis' 49-year-old mother recently left left Utah's Cirque Lodge, the 30-day rehab program she checked into in late January. She reportedly escaped to a private villa in Turks and Caicos shortly after. Moore arrived back in L.A. Monday.

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