Anthony Bourdain’s 11-year-old daughter has paid tribute to her celebrity chef dad in a subtle, yet meaningful way.
Just days after the 61-year-old was found dead in his French hotel room, his daughter Ariane got up on stage to perform in a concert.
Her mum and Bourdain’s estranged wife, Ottavia Busia-Bourdain, posted a photo of the little girl on stage to Instagram, revealing her outfit contained a subtle nod to her father.
“Our little girl had her concert today. She was amazing. So strong and brave,” the mixed martial artist wrote.
“She wore the boots you bought her.”
The 40-year-old ended with a wish to Bourdain, “I hope you are having a good trip, wherever you are.”
The couple was separated in 2016 after getting married in 2007. Their divorce was never finalised.
Bourdain has previously spoken about how important his daughter was to him.
In his book, Appetites: A Cookbook, he wrote: “I became a father at fifty years of age. That’s late, I know. But for me, it was just right.”
“At no point previously had I been old enough, settled enough, or mature enough for this, the biggest and most important of jobs: the love and care of another human being.”
He said from the moment his then-partner gave birth to Ariane he “began making some major changes” to his life.
“I was no longer the star of my own movie — or any movie. From that point on, it was all about the girl. Fatherhood has been an enormous relief, as I am now genetically, instinctually compelled to care more about someone other than myself.
“I like being a father. No, I love being a father. Everything about it.”
‘Don’t blame his girlfriend’, says friend Rose McGowan.
Bourdain was getting help for his depression and suicidal thoughts, his friend Rose McGowan has said in a letter published by Page Six.
McGowan said she was speaking about his battles with mental health issues because his 42-year-old girlfriend Asia Argento asked her to. In her statement, she said Bourdain “reached out for help” but didn’t take his doctor’s advice.
She urged fans of Bourdain not to blame Argento, who has also suffered from depression.
“In the beginning of their relationship, Anthony told a mutual friend he’s never met anyone who wanted to die more than him. And through a lot of this last year, Asia did want the pain to stop.
“Thankfully, she did the work to get help, so she could stay alive and live another day for her and her children.
“Anthony’s depression didn’t let him, he put down his armour, and that was very much his choice. His decision, not hers. His depression won.”
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