Anthony Bourdain's Texts: “I Hate My Fans. I Hate Being Famous. I Hate My Job”

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9 pointsVicterius3 comments

“I hate my fans, too. I hate being famous. I hate my job,” Bourdain wrote to his estranged wife Ottavia Busia-Bourdain, with whom he remained a close confidant even after their separation in 2016.

Wait. That isn't what estranged means?

"Estranged" can simply be synonymous with "separated", which is a purely legalistic matter of the two no longer behaving as married.

It can also connote that they're not friendly or close. I wouldn't have used it there, but without it it's not clear that they were separated at the time he wrote that letter. I personally would only use "estranged" when the people aren't friendly, but it's not incorrect as written.

I've only ever seen one of his videos, some time after he died. He was at some vietnamese food place, and looked incredibly uncomfortable - with being on camera, with existing in his body. A big, tall guy, hunched up shoulders, tight concerned mouth. He looked like he was doing his best impression of a mouse.

I have some of the same tendencies toward inwardness and discomfort. He reminds me to fight for myself. I don't want to end up like him.

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