Here's What Anthony Bourdain Wanted Done With His Body After He Died
The entire world seemed to have followed Anthony Bourdain's televised journeys across the globe over and over again, and for as much adoration as there was for the late star, the public was equally shocked when his death was announced in June 2018. However, anyone watching Bourdain on his various travel series probably took note of his too often dark humor. What we realize now is that, in those moments, Bourdain was quite simply being himself and speaking the very real thoughts and feelings he had, which often included expressions of pain and discussions of death.
In one episode of "Parts Unknown," Bourdain was sitting on a beautiful beach in Bali, eating fresh lobster with one of his oldest friends. The two were discussing death and how they'd like to go — quite the juxtaposition to their idyllic beachside scenario at the time. Bourdain said, "Leave me in the jungle. I don't want a party." That was all he wanted initially after he died, and it was reiterated in the new "Roadrunner" documentary, directed by Morgan Neville, as footage of the same scene was used to open the film.
Bourdain was candid, even in his conversations about dying
After giving it a second thought, Bourdain came back in the footage with another response that further detailed what he wanted to be done with his body after he died. He said, "What actually happens to my physical remains is of zero interest to me. Unless it could provide entertainment value." What that meant was quite different from what other people might have expected, though.
He went on to say, "Throw me into a wood chipper and spray me into Harrods at the middle of the rush hour. That would be pretty epic. I wouldn't mind being remembered in that way." Even after his death, Bourdain wanted to be remembered in this kind of brazen light, metaphorically giving the middle finger to the corporate world. Yes, he was still sticking up for the underdogs even as he ruminated on how he wanted to be remembered.
Not to mention, it would have been an unapologetically Bourdain thing to do. Instead, his friend and artist David Choe helped maintain Bourdain's memory by defacing a memorial mural of the late star. Though it wasn't the exact scenario Bourdain outlined, it remains within the same vein of provocative performance art.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).