Details on a New Anthony Bourdain Biography Featuring Texts of His Final Days
I know I don’t do a lot of book stuff, but I am one of the many fans of Anthony Bourdain’s projects including his TV shows and books. It was shocking to learn of his suicide, and I know a lot of fans wondered why. Well, there’s a new unauthorized biography being released, which will shed some light on that.
The book will contain, for the first time, the celebrity chef’s text messages from the days leading up to his death in 2018. Those texts reveal what his state of mind was like in regard to his career, his estranged marriage, and his troubled romantic relationship with actor Asia Argento.
The book is titled Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain, and it was written by journalist Charles Leerhsen, and excerpts were recently published in The New York Times. As for how they got the texts, Bourdain’s widow, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain, controls his estate, which includes these messages, so it’s believed that she gave her permission to use the texts.
Bourdain wrote to Busia-Bourdain, “I hate my fans, too. I hate being famous. I hate my job. I am lonely and living in constant uncertainty.”
The book also offers details of the troubled relationship Bourdain had with Argento, especially in regard to photos shared on social media. Bourdain shared photos of himself spending time with his estranged wife and daughter, and Argento shared photos of her dancing with a French reporter. Each was unhappy with seeing these photos, and it led to what happened to Bourdain.
After seeing the photo of Argento, Bourdain texted her, “I am okay. I am not spiteful. I am not jealous that you have been with another man. I do not own you. You are free. As I said. As I promised. As I truly meant. But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life.”
According to the Times‘ description of the book’s content, Bourdain went on to write that he was hurt that “‘the tryst’ took place in a hotel they had previously enjoyed together. Argento responded, ‘I can’t take this,’ and said she could no longer stay in the relationship due to his possessiveness.”
In his final exchange with Argento, Bourdain wrote to her, “Is there anything I can do?,” to which she replied, “Stop busting my balls.” Bourdain responded with a simple, “OK,” and later that day he killed himself.
As you might expect, there are some people not happy that this book is being published including family, former co-workers, and some of his close friends. His brother, Christopher Bourdain, sent the publisher Simon & Schuster two emails calling the book “hurtful and defamatory fiction.” The publisher responded by saying, “With all due respect, we disagree that the material in the Book contains defamatory information, and we stand by our forthcoming publication.” They will release the book on October 11th.
As someone who battles with depression and anxiety, I know what it’s like to have thoughts of suicide cross my mind. But, there are people out there who you can talk to who can help. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.