Actress Rose McGowan has written an open letter in , reflecting on the death of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.
In the piece, titled: "An Important Message From Rose McGowan, a Friend: We need to have a conversation about suicide. Blame is not that conversation," McGowan urged fans to resist the temptation to blame survivors and family members of suicide, in the wake of the high-profile celebrity chef's death last week.
The #MeToo activist said she wrote the note while sitting across from her friend, Italian actress Asia Argento, who was Bourdain's partner of the past two years.
"I know so many around the world thought of Anthony Bourdain as a friend and when a friend dies, it hurts. Many of these people who lost their ‘friend’ are wanting to lash out and blame. You must not sink to that level. Suicide is a horrible choice, but it is that person’s choice," McGowan said.
Asia Argento and Anthony Bourdain Source: Getty Images
McGowan said Bourdain and Argento experienced "instant chemistry" after reportedly meeting while Bourdain was filming episodes of his CNN food travel series Parts Unknown in Rome in 2016.
McGowan said Bourdain was Argento's "rock" as she battled depression, and became a vocal member of the #MeToo movement as one of several women to accuse studio boss Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, allegations Weinstein denies.
"And through a lot of this last year, Asia did want the pain to stop. But here’s the thing, over their time together, 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 armor, and that was very much his choice. His decision, not hers. His depression won," McGowan wrote.
The actress urged fans to not to place blame on survivors of suicide and educate themselves about mental health.
"We are asking you to be better, to look deeper, to read and learn about mental illness, suicide and depression before you make it worse for survivors by judging that which we do not understand, that which can never fully be understood," she writes.
"Please join me in sending healing energy to Anthony on his journey, and to all who’ve been left behind to journey on without him. There is no one to blame but the stigma of loneliness, the stigma of asking for help, the stigma of mental illness, the stigma of being famous and hurting."
Argento released a statement on Twitter saying she was "beyond devastated" by Bourdain's loss.
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