Anthony Bourdain feels 'guilty as f--k' over Mario Batali: 'I’ve been sitting on stories that were not mine to tell'

Anthony Bourdain is publicly processing the Mario Batali allegations with empathy, grief and a self-described guilty conscience.

"It's Batali. And it's bad," Bourdain tweeted on Monday morning as four women came forward to detail alleged sexual harassment and misconduct spanning decades.

After a female chef called the news "the most wonderful day of the year for those who have been hurt by Batali," Bourdain replied, "I wish that were true but in this case, I can assure you, from women talking to me with first hand stories, it’s not wonderful at all."

He continued, "I’ve been sitting on stories that were not mine to tell. And feeling sick and guilty as f--k I hadn’t heard them before."

It was Sunday evening when renowned chef Bourdain began hinting at bombshell news to come. The story hadn't yet been published, but rumors were already swirling: "According to three sources, a famous chef will be the subject of a story about allegations of sexual misconduct...likely out tomorrow," tweeted reporter Yashar Ali on Sunday night.

Around the same time, Bourdain tweeted, "No. Trust me. Monday is really gonna suck."

Bourdain and Batali are longtime colleagues and friends. Last year, they co-hosted The (RED) Supper for charity.

"It’s where you stand when the people you care about and admire do awful things that matters," Bourdain tweeted. "Keeping head down and hoping it goes away? No."

The message was seemingly about both Batali and Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. Homme, a friend of Bourdain, made headlines over the weekend after he kicked a female photographer in the face on Saturday night.

Bourdain also noted that he's well aware of sexual harassment in the industry. "Been there. Union shop. The shop steward would shove his fingers up my ass in front of entire kitchen every day and laugh," he wrote.

"Is that the guy you forked in 'Kitchen Confidential?'" a fan asked.

Bourdain's simple reply: "Yes."