Anthony Bourdain and his wife, Ottavia Busia, have separated after nine years of marriage, Us Weekly can confirm.
A source close to the world-renowned chef, 60, told Page Six, which was first to report the news, “They’ve been separated for a while,” but “there was no one else involved.”
Busia, an MMA fighter, explained that it wasn’t a bitter breakup, and they still care for each other. “Because of professional decisions we both have made, my husband and I have been for years in an unconventional relationship,” the 38-year-old told Page Six. “Nothing has changed. We love each other. We respect the decision the other has made. And we’ll always consider ourselves a family.”
Bourdain and Busia married in 2007, and they share a daughter, Ariane, 9. The pair met through the restaurant scene when Busia was working at Japanese eatery Geisha, according to a 2012 New York Times profile. Their first date was at a cigar bar, and soon after, they got matching tattoos of a chef’s knife on their shoulders. After just a few more dates, they tied the knot.
“We make fun of each other a lot,” Busia said of their relationship at the time. “I say what I want. People either like it or not, but I don’t care.”
It seems that the exes have truly remained amicable since the split. Last week, Busia congratulated the Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown host on Instagram for winning a Creative Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special.
The CNN star was previously married to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Putkoski, for 20 years from 1985 to 2005.
