'I'm fine': Friends, music help Asia Argento cope with Anthony Bourdain's death one week later

Grief is a tricky thing to navigate — and Asia Argento is in the thick of it. One week after Anthony Bourdain died, she gave an update on how she’s doing — and shared a glimpse of what she’s doing to cope.

Perhaps the most telling of her new posts is this one:

It’s been a rough week for Asia Argento. Last Friday, her boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, took his life. (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)
It’s been a rough week for Asia Argento. Last Friday, her boyfriend, Anthony Bourdain, took his life. (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)

From Berlin, she shared a photo of a card reading, “I’m a f***ing mess inside.” That message was crossed out and it said in bigger text, “I’m fine.”

Two other things are also clearly helping her to get by: One is her friends. A video she posted showed Rose McGowan, with whom she bonded over their rape allegations against Harvey Weinstein, turning around in a car as she sang along to McGowan’s song “Sirene.” Earlier this year, McGowan said, “‘Sirene’ is for all who need strength and all of us who wish to be in space. ‘We are fire. We are Mars.’ This is a song for all of us survivors. My love letter to you all.”

Argento posted a video of McGowan singing along to “Sirene,” McGowan’s song “for all of us survivors.” (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)
Argento posted a video of McGowan singing along to “Sirene,” McGowan’s song “for all of us survivors.” (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)

McGowan has been by Argento’s side for the better part of the last week and spoke out on the Italian actress’s behalf on Monday.

Music is also helping Argento to cope. After sharing that she was listening to Judee Sill’s 1971 breakup song “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” (Sill died of suicide at age 35), Argento posted a new screenshot of the late David Bowie’s 2016 song “Lazarus” with some of the lyrics.

Argento has been listening to David Bowie’s “Lazarus” since Anthony Bourdain died. “Look up here, I’m in heaven,” it begins. (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)
Argento has been listening to David Bowie’s “Lazarus” since Anthony Bourdain died. “Look up here, I’m in heaven,” it begins. (Image: Asia Argento via Instagram)

“Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen
I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen
Everybody knows me now

Look up here, man, I’m in danger
I’ve got nothing left to lose
I’m so high it makes my brain whirl
Dropped my cell phone down below
Ain’t that just like me?”

One week ago, the Parts Unknown star was found dead in his hotel room in France. Argento spoke out that day, saying, “Anthony gave all of himself in everything that he did. His brilliant, fearless spirit touched and inspired so many, and his generosity knew no bounds. He was my love, my rock, my protector. I am beyond devastated.”

Over the last week, we’ve learned much more about their romance, which began in 2016 after he split from his second wife, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain. He was still married to her at the time of his death, and she is handling his final arrangements. Anthony Bourdain told People earlier this year that while he’d love to live with Argento, they’d never marry after both having had two failed marriages. McGowan, on Argento’s behalf, said they were in a “free relationship,” which meant they “loved without borders of traditional relationships” after they had “established the parameters of their relationship early on.”

It’s a wrap! #Firenze @partsunknowncnn @anthonybourdain #makearteveryday

A post shared by asiaargento (@asiaargento) on May 27, 2018 at 12:07am PDT

Someone who knew both Bourdain and Argento told People that he “was madly in love” with her. The insider claimed that Bourdain was “lovestruck,” adding, “He would have done anything for her, and that was a little red flag for some of his friends.”

And now she’s moving on with just memories.


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