Asia Argento has a rough message to share ahead of the release of a controversial Anthony Bourdain biography.
The Italian actress, 47, posted – and later deleted – a photo of herself with the caption “STOP BUSTING MY BALLS” on her Instagram story on Thursday, citing the last text message she reportedly sent then-boyfriend Bourdain for his suicide on June 8, 2018.
Five days before the chef-turned-TV personality died at age 61, he saw photos of Argento dancing with French reporter Hugo Clément in a restaurant in Italy.
According to the upcoming book “Down and Out in Paradise: The Life of Anthony Bourdain,” the host of “Parts Unknown” was “outraged” that the alleged rendezvous of the “Scarlet Diva” star took place at a hotel in Rome where they both loved.
“I’m okay. I’m not hateful. I’m not jealous you’ve been with another man. I don’t own you. You’re free. Like I said. As I promised. As I really meant,” texted Bourdain Argento a day before his death, according to the unauthorized biography.
“But you were careless. You were reckless with my heart. My life,” he added.
Argento is said to have written back to the author of “Kitchen Confidential”: “I can’t handle this.”
The couple argued, and then the “XXX” star broke up with Bourdain because of his “possessiveness,” according to author Charles Leerhsen.
A day later, after drinking alcohol, the CNN personality contacted Argento again.
“Is there anything I can do?” he reportedly asked, to which his ex replied, “Stop destroying my balls.”
Bourdain simply wrote “OK,” according to the book, and then hanged himself.
The couple had a relationship for two years. Argento is currently in a relationship with Italian MMA fighter Michele Titi Martignoni, who is 21 years her junior.
Three months after Bourdain’s death, Argento gave a tearful interview to DailyMailTV after backlash that she was responsible for his suicide.
“People say I killed him. They say I killed him,’ she said, crying. “Do people have to think he killed himself for something like that? He had cheated on me too. It was no problem for us. He was a man who traveled 265 days a year. We had a lot of fun in each other’s company when we saw each other. But we are not children. We are adults.”
The activist announced on Instagram in June that she would be sober for a year.
“I was already sober from 2013 to 2016, but then I had a 5 year relapse where I really hit rock bottom in every way but especially spiritually,” she wrote in part.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues discussed in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.