Superstar chef and producer Anthony Bourdain has been an internet staple since his untimely death.
But a new revelation has fans feeling conflicted…
“He was making a documentary about human trafficking before he died, sounds familiar to other deaths of people trying to expose human trafficking,” wrote one person.
“Sadly I struggle to see that he killed himself. Even watching the Netflix doc about him I wasn’t sure if he did. Sounds too much like money kills at the end of the day. Some rich evil person who didn’t want the truth to come out,” another added.
“Let the man rest for God’s sake. Sad as it is, It’s his business how he took his life and why,” wrote a third.
Bourdain’s suicide has always been considered a tragedy.
Although some have thought that there may be more to the story than meets the eye.
And a new, unauthorized autobiography on the chef has raised even more questions.
In particular, exposing the final texts Bourdain sent to his loved ones before he passed away.
The book is titled Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain.
Excerpts have been recently published in The New York Times and have gained a lot of attention.
His family, in particular, are not happy about the leaked messages.
As many are taking the messages as personal insights into his mental state in the days leading up to his alleged suicide.
It’s believed that the source of the texts must be Bourdain’s widow.
As she controls his estate.
Bourdain’s brother, Christopher, called the publication “hurtful and defamatory fiction.”
While girlfriend Asia Argento allegedly emailed the paper to deny them consent to publish any of her messages with Bourdain.
However, Felice Javit, counsel for the book’s publication, disagrees…
He told Esquire he doesn’t believe there are negative consequences to the publication of these private messages.
“With all due respect, we disagree that the material in the book contains defamatory information.
“We stand by our forthcoming publication,” he said.
One of the most shocking texts was to his estranged ex-wife, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain.
He said: “I hate my fans, too. I hate being famous. I hate my job.”
The texts got more and more negative.
“I am lonely and living in constant uncertainty.”
But perhaps the most explosive revelations were in the messages between Bourdain and his girlfriend.
The pair had reportedly had a falling out before his death regarding pictures they had taken with previous partners.
Asia Argento had been spotted dancing with her ex.
And Bourdain’s response was pretty incendiary.
“I am okay,” Bourdain texted Argento.
“I am not spiteful. I am not jealous that you have been with another man,” he continued.
“I do not own you. You are free. As I said. As I promised. As I truly meant,” Bourdain wrote.
However, Bourdain then quickly turned the statement around to the opposite.
“But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life,” he said.
This sentiment could be surmised to be a cause for Bourdain’s eventual taking of his own life.
But the real question remains — whether it is acceptable to speculate on this issue.
Alongside whether it’s morally correct for someone to make money off of it.
“Let the man rest for God’s sake. Sad as it is, It’s his business how he took his life and why,” one commenter said.
“So many tormented souls who seek finality to shut off their pain! We have to be more aware to mental illness to help those that we are struggling,” added another.
Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain by Charles Leerhsen comes out on October 11.
Will you be reading?