Obama Pens Touching Tribute to Anthony Bourdain: He Made 'Us a Little Less Afraid of the Unknown'

Barack Obama on Friday posted a touching tribute to Anthony Bourdain, the chef, journalist, novelist and cultural ambassador who killed himself Friday at a hotel in Paris.

Obama, who appeared on an episode of Bourdain’s CNN series “Parts Unknown” set in Hanoi, Vietnam, took to Twitter to acknowledge Bourdain’s unique “ability to bring us together.”

“‘Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer,” Obama wrote. “This is how I’ll remember Tony. He taught us about food — but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We’ll miss him.”

Bourdain’s shocking death by hanging comes just three days after Kate Spade, the “effervescent” designer and women’s fashion icon, also committed suicide by hanging.

(If you or a loved one are struggling with thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or start a live chat now.)