Anthony Bourdain was 'so crazy in love' with girlfriend Asia Argento

Anthony Bourdain was 'so crazy in love' with girlfriend Asia Argento

Friends of Anthony Bourdain reveal they were concerned about his 'crazy' love for girlfriend Asira Argento, who was pictured with another man just days before his suicide.

The travel show host met Argento while filming an episode of his show Parts Unknown in Italy in 2016.

They began dating a year later and people close to Bourdain revealed he'd fallen head over heels for the Italian actress, describing him as 'a teenage boy just absolutely lovestruck.'
But a source told People that friends of the celebrity chef had begun to become concerned with his infatuation with Argento.

'He would have done anything for her, and that was a little red flag for some of his friends,' the source told People. 'Like, he was crazy in love with her, crazy being the keyword.'

Bourdain's longtime publicist for Parts Unknown, Karen Reynolds, told People that he seemed 'giddy' and was uncharacteristically communicative in the days in the run up to his suicide.

Reynolds said he appeared to be delighted with his latest episode, filmed in Hong Kong and directed by Argento.

'He was so happy. I didn't talk to him this week but all I know was he was so happy last week. I mean giddy,' she said.

'He was texting me and emailing me which he doesn't normally do about publicity for episodes but he was like, 'This is a high water mark, this is the best thing I've ever done.' He was so excited to be working with Christopher Doyle. I saw nothing that would indicate what happened. Like, why this would happen?
'We're just floored. A complete shock.'

The friend of Bourdain's told People that, while they knew he was overworked and struggling with the breakdown of his marriage, no one had any idea he'd been suicidal.

'None in our circle of friends knew he was struggling in any life-or-death way. Honestly, I don't think anyone knew. I don't think Eric [Ripert] knew the depths of his pain,' he said.

'The shock of Tony's death is almost as profound as the pain. Even his closest friends are still waiting for some mystery to be uncovered,' they added.

'We knew his nerves were shattered a little; his marriage had fallen apart, he was way, way overworked and overdriven, but unstable. No one had a clue.'

Three days before Bourdain was found hanged in his French hotel room, where he'd been filming the latest episode of Parts Unknown, Argento had been photographed with journalist Hugo Clement in Rome.

The pair were photographed hugging, holding hands and smiling as they strolled through the Italian capital.

They were later seen dancing together and sharing a close embrace in an Italian bar. The photos have since been taken down by the photographer in question.

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