A24’s “Tony” Biopic Sparks Debate Over Anthony Bourdain’s Legacy

Two years ago A24 announced a biographical film titled “Tony,” intended to depict a single summer in the life of the late chef-traveler Anthony Bourdain. The studio describes the project as a portrait of Bourdain’s personal and professional world during that period. Production and editing have been completed, though the film has not yet been released.

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Bourdain was known for embracing a wide range of media opportunities, even those that seemed at odds with his reputation. He appeared on the children’s series *Yo Gabba Gabba*, participated in a Vogue fashion shoot, and readily gave interviews to outlets whose viewpoints he sometimes opposed. In 2021, the documentary *Roadrunner* examined his life and career, providing a recent cinematic look at his influence.

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The author of this article worked as Bourdain’s assistant beginning in 2009. From that position, they observed his willingness to engage with diverse platforms and his candid remarks about vanity and fashion. The author contributed to *Roadrunner* but had no involvement with the A24 biopic. They are currently preparing a 2025 memoir, *Care and Feeding*, which reflects on the “weird privilege” of living and working in Bourdain’s shadow while he was alive and after his death in 2018. The author notes that Bourdain’s brother, Chris Bourdain, also continues to navigate that same legacy.

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A vocal segment of Bourdain’s fan base has publicly asserted that “Tony would’ve hated this,” expressing strong conviction that the biopic misrepresents the chef’s ethos. The author, however, remains uncertain about the accuracy of that claim and has set the film aside while forming their own perspective. The discussion highlights a broader tension between honoring a cultural figure’s memory and interpreting his life through dramatized storytelling.

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