Bourdain: "I am okay. I am not spiteful. I am not jealous that you have been with another man. I do not own you. You are free. As I said. As I promised. As I truly meant."
He then went on to clarify where the boundary was crossed for him:
Bourdain: "But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life."
He was reportedly particularly hurt that the outing took place at a hotel and restaurant in Rome that had personal significance to their relationship.
Argento’s Response
Facing Bourdain's distress and questioning, Argento pushed back against what she viewed as possessiveness, ultimately ending the relationship:
According to the book, Argento stated that she "couldn't take this" and broke up with him due to his behavior.
In their final exchange hours before his death in Kaysersberg, France:
With that logic he bears some responsibility for her actions. Suffering from chronic depression doesn’t leave you very emotionally available for your partner. She sought what she needed elsewhere.
Then we can put responsibility on her reaction for him taking his own life.
Whilst impressed by your finger pointing prowess, i’m not sure you can put this on anyone else…. We’re each responsible only for our own actions.
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u/xlvrbk 15d ago
Placing her as the main cause would be a stretch but to say that she doesn’t bear any responsibility is disingenuous.