Anthony Bourdain's Take On Being A Celebrity Chef Is Too Relatable
Fans were shocked when celebrity Anthony Bourdain took his own life in 2018. Many people felt that his down-to-earth, caring nature would never lead to such an act but, the celebrity was fighting mental health demons that many didn't know about.
Bourdain didn't appear to mind sharing his issues with an audience — perhaps that's what made him so relatable to his fans, his humanity. During an episode of "Parts Unknown" in 2016 Bourdain revealed his struggle with what he termed "spirals of depression" and mentioned he felt isolated. For those on the outside, it can be hard to understand that someone who seems to live a life of success, celebrity, and traveling the world experiencing new people and foods could be internally fighting with happiness (per NY Daily News).
However, the writer and chef shared his views with the world, opening our eyes to different cultures and the joys and struggles of the human race across the globe.
Anthony Bourdain was often critical of being a "celebrity chef" and the associated culture. He felt that the focus on fame and personality took away from the craft of cooking and the importance of the culinary arts. He also spoke out against the unrealistic expectations and superficiality often perpetuated by the media in their coverage of food and cooking (per First We Feast).
The good and bad of being famous, according to Bourdain
According to The New Republic, Anthony Bourdain once wrote, "The new celebrity chef culture is a remarkable and admittedly annoying phenomenon. While it's been nothing but good for business—and for me personally—many of us in the life can't help snickering about it."
The chef started to gain fame, according to LitLovers, after the publication of his book, "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly," and for hosting several popular television shows, including "No Reservations" and "Parts Unknown." TikToker @friendsofanthonybourdain posted a clip from "Parts Unknown" where Bourdain talks about being a celebrity chef. "I stood behind a stove for 28 years, standing on my feet in 110-degree heat. So if you're asking me do I miss, you know, 17-hour days, 16-hour days, six days a week, compared to complaining about the thread count at the Four Seasons, it's not a tough call for me."
However, he disliked things that were staged for production. The NY Daily News reported that during the filming of a particular "Parts Unknown" episode in Sicily Bourdain had felt close to a nervous breakdown when he realized that bags of dead squid had been dumped in the water for "an obviously staged scene." While he wrote about feeling like a sell-out, he said that he'd never expected or wanted fame and that he was ultimately just being paid to be himself and he "was fine with that."
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).