Anthony Bourdain went after Hillary Clinton on Wednesday night after she spoke out about the allegations of sexual harassment and assault that have been piling up against one of her biggest donors, Harvey Weinstein.
‘I was appalled. It was something that was just intolerable in every way,’ Clinton said of Weinstein’s predatory behavior towards young women in the film industry.
‘And, you know, like so many people who’ve come forward and spoken out, this was a different side of a person who I and many others had known in the past.’
That interview, which came one day after she finally commented on the scandal, was viewed as too little, too late for Bourdain, whose girlfriend Asia Argento told The New Yorker that she was raped by Weinstein.
‘I have to say, Hillary’s interview with Fareed Zakaria was shameful in its deflection and its disingenuous,’ wrote Bourdain.
‘Know what Hillary Clinton is NOT? She’s not stupid. Or unsophisticated about the world. The Weinstein stories had been out there for years.’
Bourdain was the first and one of the few men to speak out at the start of this scandal last week, a rare voice among the few women who were also brave enough to speak out in the first few days.
It was not until Tuesday that many members of the Hollywood community finally commented, including Hillary.
That delay is what angered Bourdain the most, but some still accused him of attacking a woman in this situation and suggested he was sexist and misogynistic.
‘Hillary is CLEARLY not responsible for anything Weinstein Thats screamingly obvious. Her response to questions though has been uninspiring,’ said Bourdain.
He was then told by one follower that his opinion about Clinton’s response was not the one that mattered in this case.
Bourdain replied to that by stating: ‘I can assure you that the victims of Mr. Weinstein’s three decades of predatory behavior are disappointed too. I’m sitting next to one.’
The celebrity chef went on to extol Clinton’s achievements, saying all she has done in the past made it difficult for him to see her do so little in regards to this sickening story.
‘Secretary Clinton was one of the most intelligent, well prepared, well briefed politicians ever. So, yes. I’d hoped for a better response,’ said Bourdain.
He later wrote: ‘This Weinstein story is deeply personal to me–and far far far more personal and painful to people I love and people I care about.’
Bourdain did not however have anything to say about Barack Obama’s silence, the man he shared beer and dinner with on his Emmy-winning show ‘No Reservations.’
This despite the fact that Barack’s own daughter worked for Weinstein earlier this year.
‘People in Democratic politics for a couple of decades appreciated his help and support,’ Clinton also said on Wednesday.
‘And people who never spoke out before having the courage to speak out, just clearly demonstrates that this behavior that he engaged in, cannot be tolerated and cannot be overlooked.’
She then said that Weinstein’s money would be part of the 10 percent she hands over to charity at the end of each year from her campaign fund.
Weinstein hosted events and donated personally to Clinton ever since she first ran for public office back in 1999 as a sentaor for the state of New York.
He ultimately raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the woman who said her greatest joy was fighting for younger women.