Chef, author, world traveler Anthony Bourdain is dead at age 61 of an apparent suicide while in Strasbourg, France.
CNN, the network Bourdain worked for, made the announcement this morning:
"It is with extraordinary sadness we can confirm the death of our friend and colleague, Anthony Bourdain. His love of great adventure, new friends, fine food and drink and the remarkable stories of the world made him a unique storyteller.
His talents never ceased to amaze us and we will miss him very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughter and family at this incredibly difficult time."
Bourdain was found unresponsive in his hotel by friend and fellow chef Eric Ripert. He was in France for a segment of his show, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown.
People reports that Bourdain died by hanging at a luxury hotel in Kaysersberg called Le Chambard.
The host of Parts Unknown and author of Kitchen Confidential began his journey in food in the seafood kitchens of Massachusetts. He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1978 and worked his way up from dishwasher to executive chef by 1998, for Manhattan’s Brasserie Les Halles.
The author of four best-selling books, Bourdain was most recently known for his show Parts Unknown which he began in 2013. He was open about the awful treatment of people, women especially, in kitchens.
He told Slate in October:
"The traditional system was the male chef would abuse his male chef de cuisine. The male chef de cuisine would then abuse his sous-chef. The sous-chefs would take it out on all the cooks who would then physically hit, kick, torment, haze, and pressure each other as punishment for bringing this shit down on them yet again. And God help you if you were a woman in those days."
While he shed his bad-boy image, the final straw was going after Harvey Weinstein and becoming a major supporter of the #MeToo movement. His girlfriend, Asia Argento was the Italian actress who told the New Yorker that Weinstein raped her. He called out men who could have made a difference, while also pondering what he could have done himself in the culinary world.
The response to Anthony Bourdain's death has been raw and immediate.
Bourdain leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Ariane Bourdain.
This news comes in just days after Kate Spade committed suicide, New York City coroner's office confirmed death by hanging as her cause of death Thursday.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Argentina: +5402234930430
Australia: 131114
Austria: 017133374
Belgium: 106
Bosnia & Herzegovina: 080 05 03 05
Botswana: 3911270
Brazil: 212339191
Canada: 5147234000 (Montreal); 18662773553 (outside Montreal)
Croatia: 014833888
Denmark: +4570201201
Egypt: 7621602
Finland: 010 195 202
France: 0145394000
Germany: 08001810771
Holland: 09000767
Hong Kong: +852 2382 0000
Hungary: 116123
India: 8888817666
Ireland: +4408457909090
Italy: 800860022
Japan: +810352869090
Mexico: 5255102550
New Zealand: 045861048
Norway: +4781533300
Philippines: 028969191
Poland: 5270000
Russia: 0078202577577
Spain: 914590050
South Africa: 0514445691
Sweden: 46317112400
Switzerland: 143
United Kingdom: 116 123 (UK), 116 123 (ROI)
USA: 18002738255