Anthony Bourdain has advised Alec Baldwin to keep his opinions on the #MeToo campaign to himself.
‘Just shut up,’ was the chef and travel writer’s succinct advice for the comedian, who has repeatedly weighed in on the movement highlighting sexual harassment and assault.
Baldwin controversially appeared to attack Harvey Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan, during an interview with PBS Newshour last year, for settling with the disgraced producer.
Anthony Bourdain (left with girlfriend Asia Argento) has advised Alec Baldwin (right) to keep his opinions on the #MeToo campaign to himself
Bourdain’s partner, Asia Argento, who was one of the first to speak out against Weinstein, called Baldwin out for comment on Twitter, tweeting: ‘Hey AlecBaldwin you’re either a complete moron or providing cover for your pals and saving your own rep. Maybe all three.’
The 30 Rock star fired back: ‘If you paint every man w the same brush, you’re gonna run out of paint or men.’
Bourdain, 61, weighed in, branding Baldwin ‘too dumb to pour piss out of a boot.’
The ‘Parts Unknown’ host said that speaking to Argento, and other women in the movement, have changed his world view.
‘When someone you care about and respect, you see them struggle to go on the record—the incredible difficulty of going public about something, and the very real peril at the time—it changes you,’ Bourdain said.
‘When Asia spoke to Ronan [Farrow], I think she might have been the first to go on record knowing with absolute certainty that she would most likely be sued, destroyed, crushed by this gigantic machine that had for decades been crushing far more powerful people than her who dared speak up. But she did it anyway. So to see that, and to see the blowback in Italy where she’s received no support, has been eye-opening.’
The ‘Parts Unknown’ host said that speaking to Argento, and other women in the movement, have changed his world view
While Bourdain is a strong supporter of #MeToo, he says he’s careful not to hog the limelight, and distract from the brave women coming forward to share their stories.
‘It’s something I’m very aware of when I hear myself talking about it—it makes me very uneasy,’ he said. ‘These are not my stories, so I feel that every time I’m talking about it I’m taking up space that should be rightfully taken by a woman. It’s a fine line for me. I don’t particularly enjoy talking about it. But if you ask me, I’ll tell ya.’