Anthony Bourdain's intense disdain for Henry Kissinger

Upon the announcement of the demise of Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State, documents formerly owned by a late American chef have surfaced.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 3 . 2:44 PM

2 min read

What sparked Anthony Bourdain's intense antipathy towards Henry Kissinger?

Anthony Bourdain's intense disdain for Henry Kissinger

Anthony Bourdain, the renowned American chef and author, expressed his strong dislike and harsh words towards former United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, particularly in relation to Kissinger's role during the Vietnam War era.

Bourdain's objections were rooted in the devastating impact of Kissinger's policies, including secret bombings and support for regimes that led to widespread suffering and destabilization in Southeast Asia. In his book "A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal," published posthumously in 2018, Bourdain famously wrote, "Once you've been to Cambodia, you'll never stop wanting to beat Henry Kissinger to death with your bare hands," reflecting his profound anger about Kissinger's involvement in actions that caused suffering in that region.

Bourdain also criticized Kissinger for ordering the carpet bombing of Cambodia and Laos, which resulted in the death of over 500,000 Cambodian civilians. He went as far as to state that Kissinger should stand trial at The Hague alongside Slobodan Milošević, a former Serbian leader who faced war crimes charges.

In a video from one of Bourdain's documentaries, he is seen asking if it would be entertaining if he punched Henry Kissinger in the face. Bourdain also expressed his disapproval of journalists who were polite to Kissinger, stating that he believed they should be criticized. He called Kissinger a "prevaricating, murderous scumbag" in his book.

Despite these strong words, Kissinger passed away at his home in Connecticut on November 30, at the age of 100. The statement about Kissinger's death was issued by Kissinger Associates Inc.

Bourdain's writings and statements about Kissinger have resurfaced following the news of Kissinger's passing, sparking renewed discussions about the former statesman's controversial actions during his tenure under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.