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Anthony Bourdain and Wife Ottavia Busia Separating After Nine Years of Marriage

Anthony Bourdain and his wife, Ottavia Busia, have separated after nine years of marriage, Us Weekly can confirm.

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A source close to the world-renowned chef, 60, told Page Six, which was first to report the news, “They’ve been separated for a while,” but “there was no one else involved.”

Busia, an MMA fighter, explained that it wasn’t a bitter breakup, and they still care for each other. “Because of professional decisions we both have made, my husband and I have been for years in an unconventional relationship,” the 38-year-old told Page Six. “Nothing has changed. We love each other. We respect the decision the other has made. And we’ll always consider ourselves a family.”

Ottavia Busia and Anthony Bourdain attend the premiere of
Ottavia Busia and Anthony Bourdain attend the premiere of “The Big Short” at Ziegfeld Theatre on November 23, 2015 in New York City.

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Bourdain and Busia married in 2007, and they share a daughter, Ariane, 9. The pair met through the restaurant scene when Busia was working at Japanese eatery Geisha, according to a 2012 New York Times profile. Their first date was at a cigar bar, and soon after, they got matching tattoos of a chef’s knife on their shoulders. After just a few more dates, they tied the knot.

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“We make fun of each other a lot,” Busia said of their relationship at the time. “I say what I want. People either like it or not, but I don’t care.”

It seems that the exes have truly remained amicable since the split. Last week, Busia congratulated the Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown host on Instagram for winning a Creative Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series or Special.

The CNN star was previously married to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Putkoski, for 20 years from 1985 to 2005. 

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