Anthony Bourdain Remembered As an 'Unabashedly Supportive' Advocate and Ally in #MeToo
Celebrity chef and television host Anthony Bourdain, who died in France at the age of 61, is being remembered for his advocacy and allyship in the #MeToo movement.
Bourdain openly discussed and criticized harassment and assault issues in the food industry — and Bourdain, as a man, took a hard look at his own past to question why women did not come to him to talk about such things.
“I came out of a brutal, oppressive business that was historically unfriendly to women,” he said on The Daily Show in January. “I knew a lot of women, it turned out, who had stories about their experiences — about people I knew — who did not feel I was the sort of person they could confide in.”
After celebrity chef John Besh was accused of sexual harassment by 25 women, Bourdain tweeted that it was “the beginning of an end of institutionalized Meathead Culture in the restaurant business.”
The beginning of the end of institutionalized Meathead Culture in the restaurant business. https://t.co/FUlh0FCSuZ
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) October 21, 2017
Bourdain, too, had to reconcile with his own contribution to what he called the meathead culture. In an interview with Slate last October, Bourdain acknowledged how kitchens became a place for harassment, particularly when they are most often run by men who feel empowered to bully those below them. And although Bourdain said he tried to remove himself from a reputation of a “macho” persona, he knew it became a part of him after a certain point.
“I am a guy on TV who sexualizes food. Who uses bad language. Who thinks our discomfort, our squeamishness, fear and discomfort around matters sexual is funny. I have done stupid offensive shit,” he told Slate. “And because I was a guy in a guy’s world who had celebrated a system—I was very proud of the fact that I had endured that.”
Bourdain began speaking out after his girlfriend, the actor Asia Argento, accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault last October, the chef often spoke out about pervasive harassment and assault and vocally supported Argento. (Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.)
When you went on record, @AsiaArgento you were sure this day would never come, that you would be crushed, that you were alone. And yet you did it anyway. #perpwalk pic.twitter.com/sGzI1qUjx7
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) May 25, 2018
When you went on record, @AsiaArgento you were sure this day would never come, that you would be crushed, that you were alone. And yet you did it anyway. #perpwalk pic.twitter.com/sGzI1qUjx7
— Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) May 25, 2018
Many women and #MeToo advocates commended Bourdain for his continuous support. The actor Rose McGowan, who has accused Weinstein of rape, posted a video Friday, crying and encouraging people to reach out to suicide hotlines.
Anthony I am so mad at you. You were so loved, the world is not better without you. I have a message for those considering suicide as a solution to a temporary problem. Please call a hotline. Please reach out. Asia needed you, Anthony. We needed you. Please come back. pic.twitter.com/kqOEdJ80h9
— rose mcgowan (@rosemcgowan) June 8, 2018
A horrible loss - @Bourdain contributed so much to the world of food/drink/culture & was among the few willing to take a look in the mirror during the height of #MeToo & be rightfully critical of some of his abusive peers. Condolences to his many friends. https://t.co/ZcQl9lV0nN
— Sarah Boesveld (@sarahboesveld) June 8, 2018
this is the least of it, but Anthony Bourdain had one of the most insightful responses to #MeToo allegations -- in his industry and others -- of any man in public life https://t.co/URwBF9IuFl pic.twitter.com/qIUZv56iIe
— Jessica Goldstein (@jessicagolds) June 8, 2018
bourdain unabashedly supportive when his partner came forward about harvey weinstein and continually a male voice in support of #metoo
— J. Escobedo Shepherd (@jawnita) June 8, 2018
One more aspect of @Bourdain's life that shouldn't be overlooked: He spoke up about #MeToo without ambivalence and with eloquence and with remorse. I loved "Kitchen Confidential" in 2000 but this piece from December is even better https://t.co/CnH4i3ASt3
— Ellen K. Pao (@ekp) June 8, 2018
If you or someone you know may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.