In the days before committing suicide, Anthony Bourdain battled celebrity and heartache, according to a new book.
Journalist Charles Leerhsen included text texts made by the late celebrity chef in his final days that shed light on his psyche in an unofficial biography titled “Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain.”
“I hate my fans, too. I hate being famous. I hate my job,” Bourdain wrote to his ex-wife Ottavia Busia-Bourdain, who had become one of his close confidants, per an excerpt published by the New York Times. “I am lonely and living in constant uncertainty.”
In the next book (due out on October 11), Leerhsen also states that Bourdain and Asia Argento, his then-girlfriend of two years, frequently experienced jealous outbursts.
The CNN host had seen images of Argento, 47, dancing with French journalist Hugo Clément in a Roman eatery the two frequently visited five days before his passing in June 2018.
According to the book, Bourdain was “incensed” over the images and searched the “Land of the Dead” star’s name online “hundreds of times,” causing them to argue over the phone and via text.
“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,” the “Parts Unknown” star reportedly texted Argento a day before his death.
“But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life.”
In the same chat, Bourdain expressed his hurt over the fact that the Italian actress’ alleged tryst occurred at a hotel they both adored in Rome.
Then, allegedly, Argento replied, “I can’t take this.”
According to the book, the “XXX” star ended their relationship with Bourdain because of his “possessiveness.”
After a long day of filming and a night of drinking, the adored chef contacted Argento once more the next day.
“Is there anything I can do?” he reportedly asked, to which his ex replied, “Stop busting my balls.”
Bourdain, according to the book, simply wrote back, “OK” and then hanged himself.
